...where the Two become the One
All tyrannies rule through fraud and force, but once the fraud is exposed, they must rely exclusively on force. ~George Orwell In the quiet realm of the individual mind, as in the grand theater of nations, a constant struggle unfolds. It is the timeless conflict between the sovereign self and the external structures that seek to direct its will. This contest is not always fought with overt weapons, but rather […] Read more »
In the governance of human affairs, few words are as frequently conflated and dangerously misunderstood as “power” and “authority.” We often use them interchangeably, yet they represent fundamentally opposing principles of human interaction. Power is the ability to compel action through force, while authority is the recognized right to direct. Understanding this distinction is not merely an academic exercise; it is essential for any individual who seeks to live a […] Read more »
In the modern political landscape, terms are often wielded as weapons, their original meanings obscured by the fog of partisan conflict. Few terms have suffered this fate more than “liberalism.” To understand the world today, we must look back to its philosophical ancestor: classical liberalism. This is not merely a historical political position but a comprehensive philosophy of freedom, rooted in the Enlightenment, that champions the sovereign individual as the […] Read more »
The story of the Tortoise and the Hare tells of a race between a swift but arrogant hare and a slow but persistent tortoise; the hare, overconfident, takes a nap during the race, allowing the tortoise to plod steadily onward and win. This fable, which emphasizes the moral that “slow and steady wins the race,” was written by the ancient Greek storyteller Aesop. The exact date of its composition is […] Read more »
The assassination of Charlie Kirk on September 10th, 2025, was an act of brutal finality aimed at a man known for his calm and reasoned demeanor. Yet, to see it merely as the tragic end of a single life is to miss its far more sinister implication. The bullet that struck his throat was not just a physical assault; it was a profoundly symbolic one. It was an attack on […] Read more »
Edward Snowden revealed in 2013 that the NSA was conducting widespread surveillance on American citizens, collecting phone metadata, text messages, and internet communications through programs like PRISM without individualized warrants or public oversight. These disclosures exposed the extent of government intrusion into private communications, violating constitutional protections like the Fourth Amendment and prompting debates over privacy and due process. John Locke’s law of reason (natural law) refers to a universal […] Read more »
Human consciousness often clings to a zoomed-in state, fixated on personal narratives, viewpoints, and structures that provide an illusion of control. This hyper-focused perspective stems from a primal need for safety, where individuals anchor themselves to familiar stories and rigid frameworks to navigate life’s uncertainties. By staying zoomed-in, people believe they can manage their environment, relationships, and outcomes. However, this narrow focus creates a self-imposed “control Matrix”—a mental construct reinforced […] Read more »
The word “authority” derives from the Latin “auctoritas,” originally meaning “growth,” “influence,” and, crucially, “authorship” – referring to someone who originates or brings something into being. This etymological root reveals how attributing authority to another implies granting them the power to “author” our actions, beliefs, or even our life’s direction, essentially ceding control over our own narrative to their will or judgment. The concept of prolonged childhood has become a […] Read more »
John Locke’s “law of reason” refers to the natural capacity of human beings to use rational thought to discern moral and ethical principles that govern just interactions, independent of external authority. It is an internal guide, accessible through reflection, that aligns individual actions with objective truths about reality and human rights. Law, at its core, represents a fundamental failure to trust in individual reason. While proponents often frame it as […] Read more »
Deductive rigidity refers to the strict application of fixed premises to reach conclusions, often stifling inquiry by treating those premises as unchallengeable, leading to inflexible and potentially flawed outcomes. In contrast, abductive reasoning offers flexibility by inferring the best explanation from observed facts, adapting to new evidence and context to align further with truth. Transactional Love is a conditional exchange where affection or care is offered with the expectation of receiving something in return, […] Read more »
Agape love, in traditional Greek usage, refers to a form of love that prioritizes the well-being of others without expecting anything in return, often associated with divine or universal compassion, and is distinctly non-transactional as it seeks no reciprocation or zoomed in personal benefit, deferring instead to a zoomed out “bigger picture” personal benefit. In the New Testament, agape is elevated as the highest form of love, exemplified by God’s […] Read more »
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 concept of labor as a means to claim property has long fascinated philosophers, from the practical insights of John Locke to the metaphysical depths of Aristotle. At its core lies an assumption: when someone invests their effort into something—like cultivating an apple tree—they gain a right to it, not just legally but in a deeper, almost cosmic sense. This right might carry a “metaphysical gravity” or “momentum,” a weight […] 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 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 »