[Skyrim Civil War]

One interesting thing to note in the Elder Scrolls is the more metaphysical battle between the elves and the humans. The elves believe that in order to be free of the "Material Prison" they must destroy the spirit of man, and Talos is the symbol of man as god. The humans are fighting for their right to survive.

The Imperials are cowards who wished to deal with the Thalmor by concession. What they conceded was the right of man to worship man. The Nords know that this "practical concession" is a devastating spiritual defeat.

Perhaps it is largely wishful projection on my part, but the Stormcloaks are some of the most inspiring heroes in video games that I've seen in a long time. Man-worshippers who fight for their right to survive.

[Keynes and Say]

I actually posted this elsewhere, but while there it was primarily intended to educate, here the intention is to subject my writing form (and, if a flaw is found, by explanation itself) to critique. Obviously if I teach anyone here something that certainly wouldn't be a downside.

So, here it is:

Keynesianism has certainly found it's place among academic economists today. No, they might not all call themselves Keynesians, and they might disagree with Keynes on nearly every issue, but not many of them object to what I call "Keynes' fundamental flaw." My purpose here is to expose and destroy this flaw.

Keynesianism is the view that "aggregate demand for goods" might, at times, be "insufficient." Insufficient, that is, to meet "aggregate supply." This means, in other words, that sometimes consumers don't want to purchase the goods offered by suppliers at current price levels (in relation to their wealth).

In the Keynesian view, nothing is worse than to allow what is inevitable in this case. The businesses, no longer making money because their goods are not being bought, start to close or downsize, unemploying many people and making the problem even worse. These newly unemployed people, having lost their wages, will consume even less, causing more businesses to close or downsize, causing more people to lose their wages, on and on.

Keynesianism demands, in such cases, that the government intervene and attempt to increase "aggregate demand." Public works projects and the extension of credit are the two primary means of achieving this end that Keynesians put forth. It should be noted that Keynesians don't always advocate such measures during what they call "general gluts." Sometimes, Keynesians advocate measures to "stabilize" the economy even during times when there is no general glut, but for all intents and purposes both cases are one in the same: The Keynesians wish to "soften" what I call "economic re-calculation."

You see, Keynes considered his "point of departure" with "laissez-faire" economics to be his rejection of "Say's Law."

Say's Law states that "products are paid for with products." This certainly shouldn't be taken to mean that transactions are always, in fact, barters. As a general rule people pay for goods with money. But why is that money accepted? Simply: Because it can be used to acquire yet more goods. Thus, it is ultimately products that people trade. When you pay me five bucks for a hamburger, you're actually paying me whatever it is that I use that five bucks on.

But it is under precisely this point that Say's law is contended. Keynes argues that money IS demanded for it's own sake, rather than for it's value in purchasing goods. "Look at financial experts," say the advocates of his theory, "THEY often buy different currencies on the market for the purpose of preserving their wealth. They demand money for it's own sake."

But this is really an incredible failure to recognize the meanings of terms. What does it mean for them to "preserve their wealth" in money? What they are preserving, in fact, is their purchasing power. After all, if that money lost it's purchasing power, they wouldn't have preserved their wealth at all, but lost it. The money, STILL, is valued for what it can purchase, not for it's own sake. The investor bought that particular form of money because he believed that it would better preserve his purchasing power than whatever he traded for it.

But how does this relate to the problem of the general glut? Keynes' attack on Say's Law, in fact, turns Say's Law into a strawman, and in so doing makes it helpless to destroy the theories he advocates. Saving, or "hoarding", meaning the act of abstaining from purchasing anything with money acquired, proves that supply does NOT create it's own demand (the negation of his formulation of Say's Law.) It is demand, under this view, that fuels economic growth.

It is said that Say's Law would imply that there is never a general glut. In fact, many formulate it that way: "There can never be a general glut." Say himself offers the answer: "a glut can take place only when there are too many means of production applied to one kind of product and not enough to another."

And so the strawman is accepted by mainstream economists through and through.

But Say's view of a glut might come with a different solution to the problem than Keynesianism, and indeed an explanation as to why the Keynesian solution is counter-productive.

A glut means that the current supply is not what is demanded by the consumers, and so they don't consume all of it. Resources have been wasted in a certain field of production. But Keynes' view of the situation is inaccurate, through his use of the term "aggregate" he fails to see the root of the problem. Current production is not in profitable fields, and it is by the profit mechanism that leads production into what might be called "economic" fields of production, those which yield the greatest value for the cost.

The Keynesian solution, the increased purchasing power of the consumers, results in consumption being "stuck" in unproductive fields. These fields, as Keynes intended, remain profitable. Those sectors don't shed jobs. This, of course, comes at the cost of future purchasing power, since the two primary means of achieving this are public works projects and the extension of credit. These can happen only be funded by taxation (either immediate or future taxation) or money printing. Taxation obviously takes money out of the economy, the opposite of Keynes intent, so he generally supports future taxation, so the cost is for the future to handle. Money printing will eventually cause price inflation, again meaning that future purchasing power will be less yet.

But Say's view of a glut implies something different. There is no use of the term "aggregate" here to hide the root of the issue. The wrong products are being produced. It can be seen, then, that the unemployment and closure of businesses is in fact a necessary medicine. Capital must be shifted from the fields which lack adequete demand, and into fields which lack adequete supply. When the mainstream economists say that they want to soften "the amplitude of the business cycle" what they actually mean is that they want to slow this process of re-calculation.

So the Keynesian economic theory causes harm to the economy in the long run, because capital is tied up in uneconomic projects (especially public works projects).

I would like, specifically, to pay homage to the various Austrian economists, particularly Ludwig von Mises and Henry Hazlitt.

[Wouldn't it be amazing if Ayn Rand was still alive and she had her]

Absolutely. I can only listen to her recorded speeches and read her books so many times.

[The Objectivist Ethical Code]

Are you perhaps conflating happiness with the emotion of joy?

I wasn't aware of the distinction.

But even if it exists the primary problem here remains the same: I fear that I'm justifying my actions with reference to my emotions rather than reason.

[The Objectivist Ethical Code]

Trying to be an Objectivist is alot of work. It's a hard standard to hold yourself to.

Think of the emotion of happiness as the reward or goal, ultimately the pursued value.

So is the justification for having friends "Havings friends makes me happy"?

What's bothering me here is that I can't really justify these desires rationally.

Let's put it another way: Having a fulfilling romantic relationship based on the virtues of both my partner and myself makes me happy. Is that the justification for it?

Given my metaphysical premises it just seems kind of given that I would value such a relationship, but I can't seem to explain why in intellectual terms.

Does that make sense at all?

[The Objectivist Ethical Code]

Not sure if it will help, but you can re-phrase your question thus: why will I be happier if I do something productive? why will I be happier is I use rationality be my long term guide? why will I be happier is I have confidence in my self-worth?

So is emotion (happiness) the standard of value here?

If so, am I mistaken for seeing that as a problem?

[The Objectivist Ethical Code]

2046: Thank you, I'm still thinking.

You were asked for the code, not a justification, but you immediately went to justifying it.

No I didn't.

The answer you were asked for is this:

To never live your life for the sake of another, nor ask another to live for the sake of yours.

That is most certainly not a summary of the Objectivist ethics, not at all. It's an aspect of the code as it pertains to social relationships, but even then it is only an indication.

[Objectivism and homosexuality dont mix]

Although most of the logical/rational arugments that I can find (on the internet) cannot prove anything wrong with homosexuality, I have come to realize that most Objectivists (apart from a few exceptions) do not really keep logical beliefs about homosexuality. Most of them are happy to let their personal biases rule over their own reason.

...

I feel dissappointed since I thought this would be a philosophy that I could really accept as an athiest.

The personal views of many (or even most) Objectivists on homosexuality have nothing to do with the validity of the philosophy itself.

You should accept or reject the philosophy on it's merits, not the unrelated personal views of it's followers or even it's original philosopher.

[The Objectivist Ethical Code]

I got asked a question today that I wasn't able to answer. I was asked, what precisely is the code an Objectivist must follow? I wasn't asked to prove the Objectivist ethics, I wasn't asked a specific question about a specific scenario, just, "What is the Objectivist code of ethics, summarized?"

Let me summarize and we'll see if I have it right so far: An individual man's life qua man is his ultimate standard of value. His nature demands that he adheres strictly to reason, and that he applies it to the problem of survival (which means, he ought to produce.) But it's here that I start to feel incapable of really arguing any further for his other major values. Why should man seek romantic love at all? Friendship? Art? I realize that the question is absurd, I know that man should seek romantic love, friendship, and art. But I can't really explain why with reference to facts beyond my own emotions.

My best explanation is the following: Once a man has integrated a rational metaphysics and consequently has benevolent sense of life, certain psychological values just follow, and determine what he should pursue. But this doesn't seem proper. I seem to be saying, in essence: "Once you've integrated a rational worldview, your emotions can guide you."

Can anyone help? Am I totally misguided here?

["Libertarian" as a concept]

Read ITOE to a more detailed understanding of concepts, their formation, and their relationship to definition. The approach that you are taking makes the definition -- the product of consciousness -- be primary. The Objectivist approach makes primary the actual referents -- the existents -- and says that you start by identifying the referents and observing their similarities. The very last step is assigning a verbal definition.

The Objectivist approach avoids the Fallacy of Redefinition, whereby on argues to a conclusion by rewriting the definition of some concept, so as to exclude or include individuals to suit your argument. The Objectivist approach to the question of libertarians (qua concept) would then be to integrate the mass of libertarians and see what, if anything, they have in common. With the man-made, it is difficult to clearly identify the concretes, but frankly that's not my problem.

I understand what you're saying, but not how it applies here.

In the same manner that all Objectivists are capitalists though most capitalists aren't Objectivists, all Objectivists are libertarians though most libertarians aren't Objectivists.

Libertarianism is a set of specific beliefs. As I understand these beliefs, all Objectivists accept them. If a man accepts libertarian beliefs, he is a libertarian.

[Diplomacy]

Diplomacy is a proper means of protecting the rights of the citizens, both by doing what one can to prevent aggression AND to secure free trade.

I go a step furter than most Objectivists (as far as I know), and believe that the government should take CAUTIOUS steps to include a larger geographical area under it's authority. Why? Because I think that freedom won't be perfect until there is a single PROPER government.

Again, this must be an incredibly cautious process. For obvious reasons, it would be foolish currently for the US to annex China (as an example), even IF it were a plausible task to undertake.

["Libertarian" as a concept]

The idea of basing conclusions on a deduction from a definition would be wrong-headed and unrelated to Objectivism.

How so? What I'm saying is that I don't see how Objectvists AREN'T libertarians, under this definition.

I think Objectivists fit under a number of definitions: Minarchists, libertarians, capitalists.

That said, I know that most Objectivists don't believe this. I don't understand why.

Before I was explicitly an Objectivist I was incredibly close to it. I accepted the following:

Ethics: Man's proper state is that of freedom. Not as consistent as Objectivism (it was a non sequitur in the context of my knowledge). However, Objectivists DO share that particular belief, and in my opinion this makes us libertarians. For whatever reason, most Objectivists disagree, and I'm trying to understand the nature of this disagreement.

Metaphysics: Objective reality.

Epistemology: Though I admit I hadn't heard the term "epistemology" at the time, I believed that reason is the proper means of cognition.

Politics: If man's proper state is freedom, it is necessary that some force ensures this state as well as it can (government).

My point here is that I don't understand how Objectivists aren't "libertarians" in the same manner that we're "capitalists". We fit under both definitions, as I understand them. In fact, I've always believed the two to be inseperable, never accepting such ideas as anarchist libertarianism or socialist libertarianism or other such nonsense.

["Libertarian" as a concept]

I never really understood the Objectivist attitude towards libertarianism, in some regards.

Obviously, I'm very against anarchists and "utilitarian libertarians" (which I believe is a contradiction).

See, before I even heard of Objectivism I was a libertarian, and the definition I accepted of the term was "one who believes that every person has an ethical right to be free from coercion".

Is this where the split exists? Do most Objectivists not accept this definition?

[A question about Free Speech and Property Rights]

Why are those conditions not proper? They are objectively stated and, given the intent of disallowing harassment which you accepted, objectively justified.

Simply, what constitutes harassment should be defined in plain language, and free of arbitrary numbers such as these.

[Morality and Ethics]

And yet Ayn Rand said that alone on an island is when man needs morality most.

Yes...

And yet we do commonly make that distinction, and ambiguously so, which is my point. We use the words interchangeably, except when we do not.

Ayn Rand didn't make the distinction, and neither do I.

It's completely useless.

[A question about Free Speech and Property Rights]

Minarchist, I assume that you support the "Respect for America’s Fallen Heroes Act", which

was created largely in part to help stem the tide of the Followers of Phelps?

Wiki

I don't think such conditions (300 feet / for an hour before and an hour after the funeral) are proper. As much as I'd like to keep things in objective measurements where possible, this is just one of those cases where a more broad anti-harassment law will have to suffice.

I haven't put much thought into the specifics of enforcement, though. I just believe that it's immoral to harass people, and should be illegal as well.

[Check List for the Future:Teleportation]

I don't think it's really "teleportation" as you seem to envision it, just the instant change in one particle caused by change in another.

I think this idea was looked at in Mass Effect 2, where they are capable of communicating across the galaxy in the manner described here.

Or I could be completely wrong.

[A question about Free Speech and Property Rights]

Why?

For the same reason stalking should properly be held as illegal.

It's forceful intrusion on the life of another.

Holding a protest near a funeral with the intention of disturbing and upsetting the attendees is nothing more than that.

Unfortunately one part of individual rights is the right to be a complete asshole.

Not to harass people.

I don't know the most widely accepted Objectivist view regarding harassment, only Peikoff's statement regarding telemarketers in a podcast (saying that he considered telemarketing a "physical intrusion" and "harassment"). I agree, though I'm not sure if he'd hold the same view in regard to protesting at funerals. I most certainly do.

[IDF Raids Free Gaza Movement Aid Flotilla]

that sounds nothing like the tea party movement. lame hypothetical

It was meant to establish the double standard of leftists, I believe.

[A question about Free Speech and Property Rights]

Phelps often holds his demonstrations as close as possible off-site.

Correct, but this should properly be held as illegal.

[What If Respecting Rights Kills Me?]

Necessity is a defense under common law, which is to say nothing of whether or not it ought to be.

I'm inclined to say it should be, but that the government should attempt to stop ANY coercion if it has the ability to, necessary or otherwise.

[Morality and Ethics]

I truly don't see the need to make a distinction. "Ethics" or "morality" both encompassing all matters of choice seems perfectly valid to me.

[What If Respecting Rights Kills Me?]

Thanks for the answer Dante. With all of this said, is it always proper for the government to keep men from alienating the rights of one another, even in emergencies?

I want to say "yes", the government should never step outside of it's role of protecting individual rights.

[What If Respecting Rights Kills Me?]

Yes, you can create a scenario in which it would be in some one's best interest are to violate the rights of others, just like I can probably find a scenario in physics where gravity does not behave normally, this doe not however mean that we should build rockets without gravity in mind or act without rights in mind.

I'm not saying that it means that, simply that it means that "rights" aren't inalienable (if my conclusion is correct) and that we shouldn't always act without forcing others to serve our interests.

This is CLEARLY contradictory with what Rand said, and I'm trying to figure out if I'm missing something.

[Should duels be legal?]

This is entirely irrelevant, since common and casual usage of the word "contract" to mean "any agreement" has to give way to its proper definition in the context of a discussion of legality.

This is a discussion of proper legality, not legality as it is. What you're saying is that these contracts wouldn't be enforced in modern law, so they're not "contracts".

Just plain ridiculous.

In addition, your beliefs about what the dictionary says are simply false: the dictionary makes it clear that it is written and enforceable by law. For one reasonable definition of "contract", see here. See also the defnition in Blacks dictionary (not available online).

That is one usage of the term.

The other, a voluntary agreement, is valid and more commonly used.