Ethical Egoism via James Rachels, 2 of 2

[greenghost2008]

I just became vice-president of the philosophy society so I can fight for egoism there. I'm also vice president of the libertarian club and we disagree alot.

[Obversity]

The rule is NOT "Have done to you as you whimsically feel like doing to others."

[Obversity]

"Live by the sword, die by the sword".

What the fuck, Cropper? Are you out of your mind? Your example designed to criticize the rule of reciprocity entails that *you* actually want your town to be pillaged -- that *you* want to be harmed.

Ugh, parrots and poor thinkers get on my nerves, and you happen to be both.

[WarVideo]

Is this sort of a responce to Jerico constantly asserting that you cant say that one persons values are more important than another persons?

[MrCropper]

No, this wasn't intended as a response to jericomovie, but if the shoe fits he is welcome to wear it!

[Virtueman1]

Good video. In the end you say that the primary reason for not stealing is the punishment you'll recieve from others. I don't think that's the case, it's something more fundamental like your respect for property rights or something.

[Virtueman1]

Otherwise you would be ethically entitled to steal just becase noone stopped you. Don't you agree?

[mortivik]

@Virtueman1:

Ethically, Objectivism is against all initiation of force, including stealing, because it puts men in irrational situations, to have to use force; this disrupts their pursual of their long-term self interest, brought about by the use of their intellect: reason.

When one steals, in a state with property rights, it causes men to continue to act against their self interest, which MrCropper discusses. Without property rights, it's "might makes right", against self interest.

[pookiehohn]

I don't like the republicans or democrats right now. It's a pick your poison situation.

[PortfolioManager1987]

On what basis are you to choose? Your only basis of choice is life.. yet your options are death and death.

My own views have evolved on voting to the point now that I think Peikoff shouldn't have endorsed John Kerry in 2004, but instead shouldn't have voted at all -- a position he finally arrived at in 2008 -- when his choice was arguably the same as in 2004. I think this is a matured progression. I hold this position now, although I am forced to vote (voting is compulsory in Australia).

[PortfolioManager1987]

I also have arrived at the view that the Republican party is not the uniquely religious party. The Democrats are arguably in the leftist Christian socialist logical conclusion Swedish style camp..

..what I mean by this (I forget which gospel this is.. Luke?)..

The left is more likely to ascribe to the counter-culture "openess", bible isn't literal, pope is full of shit when promoting abstinence, etc etc position...

..but observe these are the Live 8 crowd.. the avalanche-choir of altruism.

[PortfolioManager1987]

Not to hijack this comments section, but to extend on what I was just saying.. my point is I've also came to the conclusion that religion is religion as such.. meaning that religion is either in decline or on the rise.. the long term trend is down (500 year or more downtrend).. short term trends are slightly up (30 years).. that is to say that religion is party affiliated.. and to add to someone elses comment - both parties get into wars: Presidents reflect the corruption in Western philosophy.

[PortfolioManager1987]

typo.. that is to say religion is NOT party affiliated.

[pookiehohn]

Religion is tied with politics at the core of the human mind. (In many many cases) This is very unfortunate. But at least the democrats aren't casting a vote for Jesus. (Overtly, most of the time.)

[pookiehohn]

Well, 360 hindsight, eh? I don't judge him though.

I also don't think that not voting is the best choice. If both choices are equally bad then I would abstain, but because they both don't care about egoism, at all, I'm going with the party that supports the rights of citizens. That would be the democrats currently.

I mean if we have a gun at our heads and have to choose health care or War, I know what I'm choosing.

[mortivik]

Definitely, the socialization of health care has more of a direct effect on my life, as well as all the economic fiddling (which both parties do), so I'd say they're *much worse* than Warmongers. Both sides are using force, but the Warmongers are killing _less_ people, long-term.

I'd say that the party that supports the most rights is by-far the Libertarian Party. The LP is still a poison (some an-caps, some statists, little/no moral grounds for arguments), but *way* less than the Big Two.

[ExistentialExistent]

Both the democrats and republicans send us to wars.

[NotThat3]

You're ultra sharp recently.

[IndividualAutonomy]

lol

[templarart]

Really well dissected. A pleasure to hear you at your best.