Some ideas harbor the notion that certain things are universal, say the desire to live and continue living. However I don’t think universality ever actually exists. If only 99.99999% of a certain group is one way, that’s still not close enough, it’s not universal. If it is not universal, and it’s actually somewhere on a … [Read more…]
What is the point of doubt in ultimate knowledge? Why believe that your senses might be lying to you? I think the fundamental reason is because it shows the subjectiveness of the beliefs you hold. Here’s the thing. Each person comes to a conclusion as to what constitutes proof for them. Proof is itself arbitrary: … [Read more…]
Continually critique and refine your ideas. Seek to find any gap in your logic: tear down your own beliefs. Doubt certainties you have established within your mind.
There are a couple more points about free market provided defense that I have some thoughts about. What about roving gangs, how do those fit in? Gangs aren’t states because they aren’t accepted force. The term accepted is obviously subjective, but I think it can still be a useful concept, even if used loosely. It … [Read more…]
If power corrupts, what is stopping a stateless society from being taken over by a state? I think there are two issues here that are important: the logistics and the fundamentals. Many have talked about the logistics and the problems of conquering millions of people that have unregulated weapons, and Iraq and Afghanistan are recent … [Read more…]
There is an inverse relation between rapid development and amount of structure. A language like English, with less encouraged structure, can absorb new words and concepts at a faster clip than one that requires new words fit a preexisting mould of pronounciation or meaning. It applies to everything: the lower the barrier to entry the … [Read more…]
Does an easier life make people lazier? It might not make them lazy, but prehaps less persistent and productive. The more obstacles you have faced and overcome, the easier your viewpoint on life becomes. So maybe how much we achieve is more of a function of persistence in the face of difficulty. Persistence is a … [Read more…]
Easing part of the human struggle is knowing that you can make a difference in the world. I don’t know what percentage of people realize it, but all people of history were individuals. It’s quite a sobering thought to think of the influence Benjamin Franklin or Thomas Jefferson had on their future. There are people … [Read more…]
I read a essay by Paul Graham recently that discussed the disagreement heirarchy. There was an interesting quote in it that said: “Most intellectual dishonesty is unintentional. Someone arguing against the tone of something he disagrees with may believe he’s really saying something.” I hope that is generally the case, but it still seems some … [Read more…]
The current system of law is generally produced in a manner like this: the public casts ballots (voting) and certain people are chosen (elections). Some of these people write things down (creating bills) and then the group of chosen people vote on it (making laws). If enough do, it becomes law and now must be … [Read more…]