Dear Dr. Hurd: I feel conflicted about my loneliness, because sometimes I think the people around me, who are seemingly rejecting me, are not worth knowing anyway. On the one hand, I want to know more people and feel less … Continue reading
Dear Dr. Hurd: I have heroes I admire, and I try to live up to the standards of those heroes. But sometimes I make mistakes and I’m disappointed in myself for not living up to my standards. I also become … Continue reading
Today’s political and intellectual leaders are either disappointing or dismal. But don’t lose hope. In early America, there were wise men such as Ben Franklin. Wisdom is not on the scene at present. But its prior dominance means that wisdom … Continue reading
Dear Dr. Hurd: I used to feel that I wasn’t equipped to survive in the business world. Even as I obtained successes, I still felt like I somehow didn’t deserve them. I eventually concluded this was irrational. What helped me … Continue reading
People are outraged that the federal “stimulus” bill transferred millions of tax dollars to prisoners and dead people. But why aren’t they outraged that government is transferring money at all? Government seizure of income from people who earn it, income … Continue reading
Q: Dr. Hurd, I think I’ve determined once and for all that I do much better with some sort of forced structure — that is, a structure where I’m held accountable every day to show up, do something, etc. Do … Continue reading
THE central political issue is liberty. Liberty refers to the right to exercise your own mind and use your own judgment, and to be responsible for that judgment. If you make a judgment that’s mistaken, you don’t have the liberty … Continue reading
Skepticism is not the same as perpetual doubt. Imagine that you say, “I’ll never believe what this person says. In fact, because he says it, I’m sure it’s wrong.” This makes you every bit as dependent on the person, and … Continue reading
A true leader doesn’t even think of himself as a leader. Yes, he leads by example, but he’s not trying to lead. He’s simply leading the best life he knows how to lead, maximizing his competence and with full integrity. … Continue reading
There are two contexts for the notion of “crazy.” The first refers to a person who has sensory hallucinations and/or concretely, patently untrue delusions (e.g., the newscaster on the television is actually talking to me, personally). The second notion of … Continue reading
The upcoming Congressional election is a battle — not the war itself. The war in America, if there even is one, is over individual rights and capitalism as against the dependency of the welfare state and the ethics of self-sacrifice. … Continue reading
People tend to hold on to pessimism because they see it as a form of realism. For example, ‘There are hard and negative things in life, and it’s looking at life through rose-colored glasses to ignore them.’ This of course … Continue reading