Patrick N.

Bacon and scrambled eggs

What do you expect from a sophist?

I have no time to enter this discussion at length. I simply wanted to point out my amazement at your "inanimate brain" statement. For the sake of clarification, do you or do you not recognize the brain as animate?

The brain is, by definition as part of a living being, animate.

Yes, I have had the displeasure of reading Marx. So you yourself do not think capitalism creates "classes," you were just giving an example of reasons a socialist would have for rejecting capitalism?

I am getting The Aristotle Adventure for Christmas this year (from my wife). I look forward to reading it!

Wonderful! I would be interested in buying a copy of your book. How is it coming?

Please explain specifically what "not participate in the class creating capitalist country" means. What do you mean by "class creating?"

This is interesting. Could you provide some examples?

I think I am implicitly taking the idea that "it is wrong to initiate force" out of context, as almost axiomatic. I am then proceeding deductively to the conclusion that any initiation of force is wrong under any circumstances. Example: The initiation of force is always wrong Subpoena power is an initiation of force Subpoena power wrong Am I to understand that it is proper to initiate force against others in certain contexts? If so then what is the standard to determine when it is proper and when it isn't?

This makes sense to me.

I would love to own a McMansion!

I agree that subpoena power is necessary for the proper function of a judicial system. However, this strikes me as a violation of the person's rights who is being summoned. For the same reasons, I understand that police need to pursue criminals even on private property, yet I see it as also a violation of the property owner's rights. So I am left with a contradiction. Perhaps I am starting with the wrong premises? Dropping context?

It is not a rights violation to put a criminal in jail against his will. The criminal has forfeited his rights by committing a crime (assuming that the law or laws he broke are objective and proper). An innocent bystander has not comitted a crime and thus has not forfeited his rights.

I honestly don't know. I still have a hard time seeing how it can be justified to force someone who has not comitted any crime to divulge knowledge, testify, etc. Is not such a person an innocent bystander who did nothing wrong? What would then give anyone the right to force him to do something agaist his will? I agree that the moral thing for the witness to do would be to testify, what I am unable to grasp how such a thing ought to be legally required.

What exactly does accessory pertain to? I am not knowledgeable about this subject. If I witness someone being mugged and do not report it to the police, have I committed a crime? How have I violated anyone's rights? Is not the mugger the one responsible for the crime, and not myself?

Yes, it is in my best interest. And yes, I would testify. This is not the point. Even when it is in his best interest, it is still a rights violation to force a person to do something against his will.

Correct. Interesting point. Could you elaborate?

This topic is a source of confusion for me. My life belongs to me. I do not live for the sake of others. How then could anyone ever justify forcing me to testify in a courtroom against my will? If I am not the one who committed a crime, then by what right am I forced to appear in court? In AS, John Galt is accused of “crimes of omission” by Floyd Ferris. The argument that I am somehow “initiating force” by refusing to testify sounds like a similar accusation. What am I missing?

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=asshat

I was just in NYC last September. Amazing city! I second Walker’s suggestions, with the exception of the Pizzeria (as I have never been there). If you like Italian food, I would recommend finding a nice Italian restaurant in Little Italy. Also, if you have the cash, eat dinner at the Rainbow Room 60+ floors up in the Rockefeller building. The food is good and the view of Manhattan is fantastic! While you’re there check out the statue of Atlas in front of the building. And go to Grand Central Station. It reminded me of Atlas Shrugged and the Taggart Terminal when I saw it. If you have time take a look at the Chrysler Building as it’s in the same area. I almost forgot Wall Street. Worth taking a look at, too!

Out of curiosity, what are his ties to Objectivism?

Medieval savages. Horrific. Bombs away...

One more example of the fact that faith and force go hand in hand. If I were the professor I would have hit back.