Hazmatac

ctrl y, From, "Objectivism, The Philosophy of Ayn Rand"... Pg 307 Paragraph 3: "Judge yourself as good or evil, Ayn Rand concludes, hold yourself in esteem or contempt, by reference to a single criterion: your volitional use or misuse of your tool of survival" Pg 308 Paragraph 2: "He must learn to duge himself not by his relation to others, or by his knowledge or existential success, but by his maintenance of a certain mental state, one that depends on nothing but his own will: the state of being in full focus." If you aren't familiar with the state of being in full focus, Peikoff devotes a whole section to it in the chapter "Sense Perception and Volition". Rob

It doesn't matter what the news says. It doesn't require the news in order to find out a company is selling harmful products without the buyers knowledge. Sure, the company might be selling harmful products, but the buyer is aware of the harmful effects of these products. This is not the same as selling a harmful product without letting the customer know, which is also known as fraud. Rob

that looks good man!

It's not irrational to want to experience flying. You may really enjoy the experience and get a rush.

Great story Nick. Haven't read yours yet Zip

Tonix777, The closest you come to reality in your argument is in the fact that the CONCEPT of god is real. But a god or gods do not exist, as far as we know. Same goes for vampires or werewolves. They are make believe, not actually existing. Rob

altonhare, Your definition of existance is wrong. What existence means, is something IS. Is there consciousness? There IS. Rob

I don't know you well, but happy birthday!

Amen Nyronus

Thanks Athena, good idea.

Hi, I have a dilemma. For 2 years I have literally been unable to laugh even though I think something is hilarious. It's like I can't do it at all. I at least smile, and sometimes I make a sound LIKE laughter just so I don't seem abnormal. But I haven't really been able to have a real laugh (real laugh being you see something funny and you laugh and feel good. The sound of laughter isn't the same thing as the reaction of real laughter). I'm basically asking for advice. I miss laughing. Can you help me? Thanks. Rob

The reason the government shouldn't impose taxation is because taxation is theft, and theft is an initiation of force. No one has the right or should initiate force against others. After all, the government is just a group of people doing a job, having no higher authority over you. Rob

so i guess i could say, the principle of socialism (abstract idea) or i could say one of the principles of socialism (fundamental laws) Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. Thank you all for your help. Rob

I was just surfing on youtube and found this video about how if you regularly USE your brain, it will have a greater number of cells than if you didn't "exercise it". The speaker is Leonard Peikoff. Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6OmJur0b0g...feature=related Rob

I think she's reffering to the idea of gravity which is a theory, and not gravity itself

So does that mean it's okay to kill the baby after it came out of the womb before it's umbilical cord is cut off?

So I could say, a principle of justice is to allow nothing to get in the way of facts. I understand that. The thing is people use principle in another way. Instead of saying one of the MANY principles of a certain idea, they say it is THE principle of such and such. For example, Peikoff told (in an imaginary argument) that "you must choose between the principle of protectionism, or the principle of free-trade" Some additional info: I read on Ayn Rand's online lexicon that principle is interchangable with abstract idea. (from her book Philosophy, Who Needs it page 5, cited here http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/principles.html ) Thank you all for your help. Rob

Another answer over my head but thanks for trying. Seems to me that you don't need the 'principle' part at all. You can just say, "falling bodies and orbits can be explained by learning the law of gravity". The principle part seems kind of arbitrary. BTW isn't the 'principle' of freedom the same as, JUST freedom? Like, no real reason to put the principle part in there. Or is there a reason?

At approximately at 6:25 Peikoff says "You must decide first wether you advocate the principle of free trade or the principle of protectionism." Does that mean that a the principle of free trade is merely the concept of free trade? I mean, why is it the PRINCIPLE of free trade rather than the IDEA of free trade, or is that the same thing? Basically, the PRINCIPLE of freedom = what? Or the principle of justice = x. what is x? Thanks, Rob And btw West thanks for your help. I remember the chat, but the answer found in there, as well as your answer on here, is way over my head.

Ok, my main question that has been bugging me is the word principle. I don't understand its meaning and the aquesition of its meaning has only led to vague, or overly complex answers. So I am turning to this board: What is a principle, as seen in a quote from Ayn Rands book, Intro to Objectivist Epistemology: "And the principle of unit-economy is one of that faculty's essential guiding principles." Page 63 paragraph 2. Also can you give some sample 'principles' for me to see the simularity, or, essential common denominator. Thanks a bunch. Rob

Thanks Jomeda, that's pretty helpful. I also learned recently that happiness is caused by achieving your values. Rob

Can you give specific examples of the self-training you are talking about?

Hi, I don't post here often you probably don't know me. I am 19, living in california with my parents and little brother. I don't have a job, have been diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. I don't have any friends, and it seems like my upstairs neighbors can read my thoughts, and do all day. In fact that's the reason I believe in psychics. The point is, I haven't been happy in a LONG time. I find it difficult to laugh at anything, if not impossible. I am bothered by voices when I try to work and it makes me do a poor job, and is difficult to focus on anything for too long I want to find the map to happiness, and I figure this forum is a good place to get ideas. If anybody has any suggestions I would be glad to hear them. Thank you. Rob

iago, what is it you mean by evil?

Hi my name is Rob. I'm sure this will be the first time anybody in the forums have heard of me. Basically I am white, live with my parents and little brother, and have been batteling a mental illness for about three years. The reason I am posting is because I want to know if it is wrong for me to take money from the government. My handicap being schizofrenia, it sometimes rob's my attention and causes me to work slower and makes it hard for me to listen to a person talking right in front of me. In essence I am unable to have a job at this point. My dad is always pushing for me to take the money, his argument being that in the great vastness of all this government spending what they will give to me is like giving me a speck within an ocean (meaning only a little bit, about 1000 a month). My question is: Is it OK and right for me to take disability money until I'm better? Thanks for your time. Rob