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Index for this page...
All The Following Items Were Posted On May 1, 2007 Autonomy: The Greek etymology of the word "autonomy" tells us that it is being a law unto itself -- not being governed by any superior on earth. It is worth commenting here on a mistake we find in Rousseau's Social Contract. In a hypothetical state of nature, and so in the absence of society, every human being has the freedom of autonomy. But when they enter freely into the social contract, Rousseau says they are still as autonomous as before. No one in a political society is autonomous. The citizens who obey the laws in the making of which they have a voice enjoy political freedom, but political freedom is not the freedom of autonomy -- the freedom of people in a state of nature; rather it is to be governed with one's own consent and with a voice in one's own government. What Rousseau calls "a state of nature" is not natural if the word "natural" is used in Rousseau's sense that refers to a hypothetical state of nature. Instead, it is both natural and conventional. It is natural by need; human beings need political society in order to live well; and at the same time it is conventional, not by a social contract, but rather as constituted by such men as Solon and Lycurgus, who respectively gave constitutions to Athens and to Sparta. When this meaning is understood, certain passages in Aristotle's Politics, Book I, Chapter 2, which at first appear to be contradictory, become intelligible without contradiction. In other words, human beings cannot achieve a good or civilized life unless they are citizens of a state, but the states that are thus constituted differ conventionally from place to place. From Adler's Philosophical Dictionary: 125 Key Terms for the Philosopher's Lexicon. Have you a copy of this book in your personal library? Read Max Weismann's review of this book by Clicking Here.
Marcus Aurelius (121-180 A.D.) "Marcus Aurelius, the fourteenth emperor of the Roman Empire, was a devout Stoic layman whose philosophical life embodied virtually all doctrines of the Stoic tradition. He is an admirable example of one who lived his faith. Marcus was great because he succeeded in living in the world while refusing to compromise his ideals with the petty obsessions of lesser men..." -- Professor James L. Christian. Read about Marcus Aurelius in The Radical Academy.
Source: Volume 1 of The Wisdom Seekers: Great Philosophers of the Western World, by James L. Christian. If you want an excellent and comprehensive history of philosophy, the two volumes in this set are among the best available. And I'm not just saying that because Professor Christian is a personal friend. I used his introductory textbook in philosophy when I was teaching an introduction to philosophy course many years ago. J.D.
FOR THE RECORD 1. Bad News: "Tax Freedom Day" Shows Government Is Your Biggest Expense Every year the Tax Foundation calculates a "Tax Freedom Day" for the U.S. and for each state. "Tax Freedom Day" is the day when, by their calculations, Americans have earned enough money to pay the cost of government. This year, Tax Freedom Day arrives April 30 -- two days later than just a year ago. Indeed, it's a whopping 12 days later than just 2003, when Tax Freedom Day came on April 18. The Tax Foundation -- a nonpartisan, nonprofit tax research organization -- says that Tax Freedom Day answers the basic question, "What price is the nation paying for government?" This year federal, state and local taxes amount to 32.7 percent of U.S. income. Converting that into days worked, this means Americans will work four months of the year, from January 1 to April 30, before they have earned enough money to pay taxes. Breaking that 120 days down, the Tax Foundation estimates it will take:
Tax Freedom Day makes one thing crystal-clear: government is our biggest expense by far. Americans work longer to pay for government (120 days) than for food, clothing and housing (105 days) -- combined. It is also very revealing -- if rather depressing -- to view these figures in the context of an 8-hour workday:
Even worse: Tax Freedom Day doesn't even come close to measuring the full, devastating effect of government on our prosperity. Americans for Tax Reform, a group that lobbies for lower taxes and smaller government, each year calculates "Cost of Government Day." Cost of Government Day is the date on which the average American has earned enough to pay taxes -- PLUS the cost of federal, state and local regulations. Last year Cost of Government Day was July 12th -- meaning that government consumed 52.7% of national income. Meaning that we were slaves to the state for more than half our working year. Other estimates put the total cost of government even higher. However you figure it, it's clear that the cost of government is a crushing burden for Americans. And the burden is rising. Sources: The Tax Foundation; Americans for Tax Reform; CNNMoney.com. 2. More Bad News: Five Worst Cancer-Causing Foods There are some foods that people who are at high risk for developing cancer should definitely avoid. Generally, says natural health researcher Mike Adams, they should avoid foods that contain ingredients known to cause cancer, such as refined sugars and grains, hydrogenated oils, and nitrates. But which foods are the absolute worst? In The Radical Academy's continuing interest in the physical health of our visitors, we present the following information (not that this info is going to stop anyone -- including yours truly -- from imbibing now and then in one of these foods, but...). According to Adams, the top five cancer-causing foods are:
Now, the ball is in your court! We've done our public service. The incredible progress the human race has made during the past century -- largely due to the growing acceptance of the libertarian ideas of free markets and individual freedom -- is one of the most inspiring stories of our time. It is also one of the least understood and most neglected stories. "Now for the Good News: Mankind has never been healthier, wealthier or freer. Surprised?" is the title of an article on this topic, just published online by the libertarian magazine Reason. Excerpts: "It's a global phenomenon. Worldwide, life expectancy has more than doubled, from 31 years in 1900 to 67 years today. India's and China's infant mortalities exceeded 190 per 1,000 births in the early 1950s; today they are 62 and 26, respectively. In the developing world, the proportion of the population suffering from chronic hunger declined from 37 percent to 17 percent between 1970 and 2001 despite a 83 percent increase in population. Globally average annual incomes in real dollars have tripled since 1950. Consequently, the proportion of the planet's developing-world population living in absolute poverty has halved since 1981, from 40 percent to 20 percent. Child labor in low income countries declined from 30 percent to 18 percent between 1960 and 2003. "Equally important, the world is more literate and better educated than ever. People are freer politically, economically, and socially to pursue their well- being as they see fit. More people choose their own rulers, and have freedom of expression. They are more likely to live under rule of law, and less likely to be arbitrarily deprived of life, limb, and property. "Social and professional mobility have also never been greater. It's easier than ever for people across the world to transcend the bonds of caste, place, gender, and other accidents of birth. People today work fewer hours and have more money and better health to enjoy their leisure time than their ancestors. "Man's remarkable progress over the last 100 years is unprecedented in human history. It's also one of the more neglected big-picture stories. Ensuring that our incredible progress continues will require not only recognizing and appreciating the progress itself, but also recognizing and preserving the important ideas and institutions that caused it, and ensuring that they endure." In short, liberty is enriching the lives of billions of people around the world. Lots more good news can be found in the article, written by Indur M. Goklany, at "Now for the Good News..." 4. Poll: 91 Percent Of Americans Believe In God A new poll indicates why God and religion could play a significant role in the 2008 elections -- more than nine in 10 American adults say the believe in God, and 87 percent identify with a specific religion. The Newsweek poll of more than 1,000 adults also found that nearly half -- 48 percent -- reject the scientific notion of evolution. Perhaps even more surprising, 34 percent of college graduates say they reject evolution and accept the biblical account of creation as fact. Other findings of the poll include:
POOLS OR GUNS?: "What do you think is more dangerous, a house with a pool or a house with a gun? When, for '20/20,' I asked some kids, all said the house with the gun is more dangerous. I'm sure their parents would agree. Yet a child is 100 times more likely to die in a swimming pool than in a gun accident. "Parents don't know that partly because the media hate guns and gun accidents make bigger headlines. Ask yourself which incident would be more likely to be covered on TV." -- ABC "20/20" co-anchor John Stossel. Source: Human Events. "We could cut [federal] spending by two-thirds and still have a federal government as large as it was in 1990." Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX)
PLEASE NOTE: Some of the information in "For The Record" may have been provided to us by one or more of the following resources: Advocates for Self-Government; NewsMax.com; The Patriot Post; Media Research Center; National Center for Public Policy Research; Foundation for Individual Rights in Education; TownHall.com; Toward Tradition; This is Common Sense; The Sam Adams Alliance; Junk Science; WorldNetDaily. COUNSELING CORNER: Some things to think about from Steven Wright . . . If you're not familiar with the work of Steven Wright, he's the erudite humorist who once said: "I woke up one morning and all of my stuff had been stolen... And replaced by exact duplicates!" His mind tends to see things a bit differently than the rest of us mortals. Here are some of his gems: 1. I'd kill for a Nobel Peace Prize. 2. Borrow money from pessimists - they don't expect it back. 3. Half the people you know are below average. 4. 99% of lawyers give the rest a bad name. 5. 42.7% of all statistics are made up on the spot. 6. A conscience is what hurts when all your other parts feel so good. 7. A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory. 8. If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain. 9. All those who believe in psychokinesis, raise my hand. 10. The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. 11. I almost had a psychic girlfriend, but she left me before we met. 12. OK, so what's the speed of dark? 13. How do you tell when you're out of invisible ink? 14. If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something. 15. Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm. 16. When everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane. 17. Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy. 18. Hard work pays off in the future, laziness pays off now. 19. I intend to live forever; so far, so good. 20. If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends? 21. Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines. 22. What happens if you get scared half to death twice? 23. My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder. 24. Why do psychics have to ask you for your name? 25. Everyone has a photographic memory; some just don't have film. 26. A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking. 27. Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it. 28. The hardness of the butter is proportional to the softness of the bread. 29. To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research. 30. The problem with the gene pool is that there is no lifeguard. 31. The sooner you fall behind, the more time you'll have to catch up. 32. The colder the x-ray table, the more of your body is required to be on it. ...........and the all time favorite........... 34. If your car could travel at the speed of light, would your headlights work?
A LITTLE OF THIS & A LITTLE OF THAT A Little Wisdom: "It is not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath." -- Aeschylus (525-456 BC),Ancient Greek writer A Little Advice: Enthusiasm is contagious. Start an epidemic. A Little Question: If a man says something in the woods and there are no women there, is he still wrong? A Little Put-Down: Complete set of Encyclopedia Britannica.45 volumes.Excellent condition. $1,000.00 or best offer.No longer needed.(Got married last weekend, wife knows everything). A Little Proverb: Many people quit looking for work when they find a job. A Little Reflection: Children - You spend the first 2 years of their life teaching them to walk and talk. Then you spend the next 16 telling them to sit down and shut-up. A Little Observation: Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. -- Douglas Adams A Little Quote: "The good people sleep much better at night than the bad people. Of course, the bad people enjoy the waking hours much more." -- Woody Allen (1935- ___) --American humorist, director, actor, author A Little Definition: Stress - The confusion created when ones mind overrides the body's basic desire to choke the living crap out of some idiot who desperately needs it. A Little Admission: "Ironic isn't it? I no sooner get the closet of my dreams then my husband comes out of it." A Little Bargain: For sale: Parachute. Only used once, never opened, small stain.
Some interesting & provocative articles on other websites: Race in America and the Whacking of Don Imus, by Sumit Dahiya: The laid-back and relaxed voice on the radio was replaced by the venomous barrage by Revered Jesse Jackson who is upset because television is "all white all night." The great Don Imus has been sacrificed on the "altar of political correctness and race relations" in America. The Dependence of Morality on Religion , by Stephen Law: But of course the claim that morality is causally dependent on religious belief - that it will not (or at least is unlikely to) survive without it - is an empirical hypothesis. It's not enough just to make this claim. We are owed some grounds for believing that it is true. What's the evidence? Ludwig Wittgenstein - In search of the real artichoke, by Clive James: Born into a wealthy Viennese family, Ludwig Josef Johann Wittgenstein (1889-1951) was the glamour boy of English philosophy in the 20th century, and in the new millennium his influence continues to be potent. If there are still English philosophers who seem to prefer it when nothing is discussed except the means of discussion, their memories of Wittgenstein are probably the reason. Is PE a waste of time?, by Barbara Lantin: How much energy children expend may be determined by their genes, a study suggests, implying that they find their own activity level no matter what we tell them to do. American psycho, by Sarah Baxter: When Cho killed 32 people at Virginia Tech, the horrific slaughter revealed not only the poisons lurking in popular culture but the crisis of young males in a feminised society. The Duke LaCrosse Scandal - Eight Lessons, by Dennis Prager: America's news media, an amoral university, an opportunistic district attorney, and a police department that seems to have collaborated in framing innocent students all combined to nearly destroy the lives of three innocent young men -- members of the Duke University lacrosse team. Watering-Down Catholic Education has Made it Indistinguishable from the Secular - thus Dispensable, by John-Henry Westen: For years now the group representing Catholic school teachers in Ontario, the union to which all Catholic teachers in the province must pay dues, has taken on a decidedly anti-Catholic stance. They have distanced themselves from many of the teachings of the Catholic Church going so far as to repudiate her moral teachings especially on homosexuality. There Is a Place for Faith in Science, Insists Winston, by James Randerson: His nickname is Darwin's Rottweiler and he earned it - and a reputation that spans the globe - with his pugnacious defence of the theory of evolution. But Professor Richard Dawkins' strident views, and the way with which they are delivered, came under surprise attack yesterday from an equally eminent scientist, though one better known for his more avuncular style. Text reveals more ancient secrets, by Rebecca Morelle: Experts are "lost for words" to have found that a medieval prayer book has yielded yet another key ancient text buried within its parchment. Works by mathematician Archimedes and the politician Hyperides had already been found buried within the book, known as the Archimedes Palimpsest. But now advanced imaging technology has revealed a third text - a commentary on the philosopher Aristotle. Working for the Clampdown, by James Bovard: What might the president do with his new power to declare martial law? The Defense Authorization Act of 2006, passed on Sept. 30, empowers President George W. Bush to impose martial law in the event of a terrorist "incident," if he or other federal officials perceive a shortfall of "public order," or even in response to antiwar protests that get unruly as a result of government provocations. Fascist America, in 10 easy steps, by Naomi Wolf: From Hitler to Pinochet and beyond, history shows there are certain steps that any would-be dictator must take to destroy constitutional freedoms. And ... George Bush and his administration seem to be taking them all. Why we need religion, by Jeff Jacoby: "I WOULD ban religion completely," British pop-music star Elton John said in a much-noted interview last November. "It turns people into hateful lemmings, and it's not really compassionate." It isn't exactly news that many people find religion odious, but what is being called the New Atheism has lately become a booming industry. Science is the Real God, by Charles Sabillon: Every religion in the world claims that its particular God is almighty. However, there is nothing in recorded history which validates the claim that Buddha, Jesus, Mohammed or any other of those so called emissaries of God had divine powers. There is nothing either which supports the claim that the supposed boss of those men was all powerful. Natural law versus social justice - The permanent conflict of modern democracy, by Fred Hutchison: The central philosophical problem of modern democracy is the clash between natural law theory and social justice theory. Beginning with the era of the French and Scottish Enlightenment, natural law theory was the natural starting place for conservative ideas in a democracy. Social justice theory was the starting point for liberal ideas in a democracy.
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