I'm planning a salon on, "Sex as an emblem of values in Ayn Rand's writings". I'll probably open with Francisco's speech on sex in Atlas Shrugged, compare and contrast Dagny's choices versus other characters, including the significance of the 'rape' scene in The Fountain Head. Parts of these novels have been culled in support of feminism, anti- ( Read more... )

Happiness is that state of consciousness which proceeds from the achievement of one's values (The Virtue of Selfishness, p31). She further asserts that people who elevate their nihilistic pleasures over their productive happiness merely do so to provide a moment's relief from their chronic state of terror. That placing pleasure as the ultimate ( Read more... )

It has always mystified me why smart people - geniuses - believe in bullshit. I'm not talking about when they disagree with me, and my ideas - that can be clarifying for me - but when they advocate premises that are demonstrably false.

The answer is in the book Why People Believe Weird Things. Shermer says that smart people use their superior ( Read more... )