Welcome to the October 8th, 2009 edition of the Objectivist Round Up. This carnival features posts written by Objectivist bloggers. Ayn Rand once described her philosophy:
My philosophy, in essence, is the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute.
–Ayn Rand, “About the Author,” Atlas Shrugged, Appendix.
For more information about Ayn Rand and her philosophy, please visit the Ayn Rand Institute or the Ayn Rand Center for Individual Rights.
On with the show!!
Burgess Laughlin presents The Tragedy of Reason (Bk. Rev.) posted at The Main Event, saying, “In a clear and lively style, Dr. Roochnik defends Plato against Post-Modernists and other “misologists” (haters of reason), ancient and modern. Dr. Roochnik’s partly flawed but nevertheless informative account of a 2700-year struggle between defenders and attackers of reason (in various meanings) provides leads to understanding some elements of today’s war between reason and mysticism — the main event of our time.”
Khartoum presents S.L. Kirloskar on Mahatma Gandhi posted at Philosophy, Law and Life., saying, “October the 2nd is Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday and his birthday is being celebrated all over the country – especially in Gujarat which has kept the prohibition on liquor based on Gandhi’s ideas, I thought it would be instructive to understand Kirloskar’s evaluation of Gandhian philosophy and the reasons for his judgment.”
Roderick Fitts presents Aristotle’s View of Induction: A Summary posted at Inductive Quest, saying, “A more detailed summary of Aristotle’s view of induction. From particulars to memories to experiences to the universals.”
John Drake presents Capitalism, I love you posted at Try Reason!, saying, “In response to Michael Moore’s new movie, I offer an alternative source of information about Capitalism, Andrew Bernstein’s The Capitalist Manifesto.”
Miranda Barzey presents Why I Didn’t Like Dave Labelle’s Speech posted at Ramen & Rand, saying, “My disagreements on philosophy with one of photojournalism’s most well known professionals.”
Amy Mossoff presents Social Norms posted at The Little Things, saying, “Some interesting social norms I’ve encountered recently, and how a school parking lot can be a great example of Ayn Rand’s principle of no conflict of interests between rational men.”
Bevan Sabo presents An Interview with Yaron Brook (Part I) posted at Free Market Mojo.
John Cox presents Objectivism and Constitutional Law posted at John and Ansley, saying, “My thoughts on the various judicial theories on both the left and right as well as an explanation of what the correct role of judges should be in our current system.”
Gus Van Horn presents A Light to Read posted at Gus Van Horn, saying, “Did this guy leap from the pages of Atlas Shrugged — or Anthem? You decide!”
Jeff Montgomery presents A Review of Michael Moore’s “Capitalism: A Love Story” posted at Fun With Gravity, saying, “Michael Moore’s latest film fails as a critique of capitalism, because many of his examples are not really capitalism, and because the examples that do represent capitalism are not morally wrong.”
Jared Rhoads presents Economics in the curriculum posted at The Lucidicus Project, saying, “A new survey finds that graduating med students feel that their understanding of medical economics is lacking. Not surprising, considering the number of single-payer advocates on med school campuses.”
Paul Hsieh presents CSM OpEd – “Health Care in MA: Warning for America” posted at We Stand FIRM, saying, “The Christian Science Monitor has published another of my health care OpEds, this time on the dangers of the Massachusetts-style health “reform” now being proposed as a national model.
Thank you to everyone who has circulated this to their friends, family, co-workers, and elected officials!”
Ari Armstrong presents Introducing Jennifer Burns on Ayn Rand posted at FreeColorado.com, saying, “A critical look at Jennifer Burns’s introduction to Goddess of the Market.”
Kate Gerber presents Is there a “Work-Life Balance”? posted at CareerMama℠.
JStotts presents Movie Review: “The Invention of Lying” posted at Erosophia, saying, “A short review of the new movie “The Invention of Lying.” if you haven’t seen it yet, make it a high priority. It’s not often you can see pro-atheist movies in theaters.”
Andrew Dalton presents Planned recession: the next trial balloon posted at Witch Doctor Repellent, saying, “Environmentalists now admit that they are willing to inflict economic hardship on everyone.”
Diana Hsieh presents Report on the Atlas Shrugged Reading Groups posted at NoodleFood, saying, “Front Range Objectivism’s new Atlas Shrugged Reading Groups are off to a great start, and I’m offering discussion questions and podcasts for anyone interested in starting their own groups — or simply studying the novel in more depth.”
Brian Phillips presents Do “Something” and Do It Now posted at Houston Property Rights, saying, “I would agree that “something” must be done about the state of health care in America. And I would agree that it should be done immediately. But that “something” must be guided by specific principles. True reform must be guided by the principles of individual rights.”
Mike Zemack presents When Pragmatism Meets Ideology posted at Principled Perspectives, saying, “Here is a good example of why businessmen need philosophy.”
Paul McKeever presents A Blasphemous Question: Is Religion Anti-Freedom? posted at Paul McKeever, saying, “this is the full text of a speech I gave to the Durham Region Freethinkers Association on September 30, 2009 (the anniversary of the publication of the Muhammed cartoons…aka International Blasphemy Day). I only which I had had more time to write it.”
Myrhaf presents 10 Things You Did Not Know About Me Until Now posted at Myrhaf.
Grant Jones presents Obama versus The First Amendment posted at The Dougout.
Trey Givens (That’s me!!) presents Watch a Baby Elephant being Born!! posted at Trey Givens, saying, “This video is simply incredible. I was so scared the baby would get hurt or would suffocate. It’s pretty gross, so watch this with caution, but it’s also absolutely amazing.”
Adam Reed presents Three Democides by False Morality: Part III, The Ban On Cloning posted at Born to Identify, saying, “Dick Armey’s world-wide de-facto prohibition against medical research into cloning-based organ replacement technology is not a case of political power in the service of false morality, but of false morality in the service of one politician’s otherwise unprincipled pursuit of political power.”
Doug Reich presents two posts. First, Africa’s Big Brother versus the “Masters of Light” posted at The Rational Capitalist, saying, “Two recent events struck me as representing something of a contrast – the contrast between life and death.” And second, The “Dreier Model,” saying, “A recent article detailing Marc Dreier’s audacious Ponzi scheme, allows us to examine similiarities between the motivations of a psychotic scoundrel and the motivations of Keynesian central bankers.”
Thanks for posting this week’s round up!
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