...where the Two become the One
The straw man logical fallacy—where an argument or character is distorted into a weaker, oversimplified version to be easily attacked—serves as a potent tool for misrepresenting individuals of depth and complexity. A person of depth, marked by nuanced ideas, emotional richness, and intricate reasoning, becomes a target for those with agendas or those too biased or dimwitted to grasp such complexity. Whether driven by malice or ignorance, these critics erect […] Read more »
The angry mob, fueled by ignorance and prejudice, stormed the castle, their shallow understanding of the world reduced to simplistic labels and stereotypes, as they sought to destroy the monster, which they called “Depth” – a symbol of complexity and nuance that threatened to shatter their comfortable illusions. With each blow, they struck not at the monster’s heart, but at their own limitations, attempting to silence the whispers of doubt […] Read more »
Pride, humility, and dignity emerge as authentic virtues when they arise from an internal locus of identity, shaped by self-awareness and rational integrity. These internalized traits stand in sharp contrast to their externalized distortions—arrogance, pretentiousness, and a superficial mimicry of dignity—which depend on an external locus of control or identity for validation. Ayn Rand, the creator of Objectivism, extolled pride as a moral summit, while rejecting humility as a flaw. […] Read more »
The Roots of Pain and the Power of Reflection Emotional pain often feels like an assault on our very being, a visceral signal that something is wrong with us or the world around us. But what if this pain arises not just from the event itself, but from how we identify with it? Consider the possibility that people—whether children, narcissists, or anyone in a prerational state—see their pain as a […] Read more »
Ayn Rand’s Objectivism asserts that the individual is an end, not a means, judged by rational achievements and integrity rather than utility to others—an idea that challenges conventional views of value and purpose. This perspective invites us to explore how humans define worth, not just for themselves but for truth itself, and how these definitions shape spirituality, philosophy, and economics. What follows is an examination of this tension, tracing a […] Read more »
In the biblical narrative, duality emerges as a consequence of humanity’s choice to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, an act framed by me as providing the necessary “opt-out” from a higher harmony and morality, to ensure free will. Eating the “forbidden fruit” plunges existence into a polarized state, where good and evil are no longer integrated within a unified moral framework but are instead […] Read more »
Isaiah 1:18 presents a divine invitation with profound implications: “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (KJV). This suggests that reasoning—whether to purify one’s Self, resolve conflict, or negotiate preferences—holds a redemptive quality, capable of transforming sins and mistakes. The process implies a […] Read more »
Below is a Socratic like dialogue that I had with Grok today, exploring various forms of reasoning, which led to thoughts about using abductive reasoning to explore the nature of reality, including the possibility that we are in a simulated reality, much like is posited in the Matrix trilogy. Then discussing the necessity for opt-outs for transforming our current simulated reality into a “new earth” that’s inherently moral, including offering […] Read more »
I often joke around and tell people “I’m the most humble person I’ve met, but I’m not modest”, but I say this to poke at them because I also know that society doesn’t encourage people to develop their inner humility in a quest for unerring truth like I do, nor do most people approach life through the lens of the Socratic paradox of “I know that I know nothing” as […] Read more »
“Who you become is infinitely more important than what you do, or what you have. You were purposefully created and created for a purpose. You are here at this very moment to become the-best-version-of-yourself—not some second-rate version of your parents, friends, siblings, colleagues, or even your heroes. Life is a quest to become perfectly yourself. It is through this quest that we become real…” – The Velveteen Rabbit Life is […] Read more »
Is the foundation of my faith theological or philosophical? What is the difference? By far, the vast majority of Christians are theological Christians and not necessarily philosophical Christians, and while on the surface it may look similar to the casual onlooker, especially those who do not understand the difference, at the foundation, it can be quite different. While I have no emotional judgmentalness against theological Christians for their foundation, I […] Read more »
Question: It seems that there is a dynamic where false accusations generate some sense of imagined or real power over others, where they are acting as the judge, lawyer, and sentencing authority all in one. For example, to accuse a friend or relative of wrongdoing without evidence and then punishing them for it by blocking all further contact, or by turning friends and/or family against them with dramatic certainty, but […] Read more »
Question for x.com’s Grok 3: In two paragraphs, explain the concept of liberty from a classical liberal perspective. In two paragraphs, define justice and an ideal justice system that differs from a legal system, built upon both John Locke’s and Frederic Bastiat’s philosophies. In two additional paragraphs, explain the concept of truth from a critical thinking and philosophical perspective, such as Socrates and Aristotle. In three final paragraphs, write a […] Read more »
“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” ~Provers 29:18a In my disclaimer on AI, I mentioned how AI would not write my articles for me, however, I am re-posting a creative dialogue I had with Elon Musk’s newly released Grok 3 that I had today, where it helped me to formulate my vision for reclaiming American culture and society from the grips of destructive leftist ideologies, such as liberalism […] Read more »
Conformity Consciousness: Conformity consciousness is the awareness and internalization of social norms and expectations, guiding individuals to align their behavior, beliefs, or appearance with those of their group or society to achieve acceptance or harmony. ~Grok 2 Justice (n.) “the exercise of authority in vindication of right by assigning reward or punishment;” also “moral soundness and conformity to truth.” In the past, I have discussed the three main densities of […] Read more »