The most important function of government — making it the only acceptable alternative to anarchy — is the protection of the individual from physical force. Governments cannot prevent people from becoming criminals, of course, and much criminal punishment comes after … Continue reading
Will the truth set you free? Absolutely. If something really is true, it’s part of reality. You’re much better off in contact with reality than not. If you’re ignorant, knowing what’s true sets you free to be knowledgable. If you’re … Continue reading
Several people wrote and asked me if there are ways to battle “seasonal affective disorder” (SAD) either mentally or cognitively, as opposed to biochemically. My answer is yes, it is definitely worth a try. If you find that you get … Continue reading
Many people have a false idea that the end of a relationship, or a divorce, is a “failure.” It isn’t, necessarily. All that it really means is that the two members of the relationship no longer satisfy each other. Failure … Continue reading
Intelligence is the ability to think in terms of abstract concepts, as opposed to merely perceiving persons, places and things. Brilliance is when those abstract concepts prove to be true.
Obama’s forthcoming war in Afghanistan rests on the same flawed foundation as did Bush’s war in Iraq: It’s not winnable. I don’t mean it’s unwinnable militarily; it’s unwinnable conceptually, and therefore military victory is beside the point. The inability of … Continue reading
To be “thankful” means to have something to cheer, or to celebrate. In order to have something to celebrate, you first have to embrace life. Embracing life is not just a wish, but an ongoing rational task requiring effort and … Continue reading
Is America too big to fail? No. America was based on big, sound ideas. These ideas included individual rights, freedom, and private property. They included rationality in the sense of people thinking, and being responsible, for themselves. These big, sound … Continue reading
Anxiety (when it’s not rational) is usually the result of insufficient self-esteem. Self-esteem consists of two parts: Self-efficacy and self-worth. Self-efficacy refers to the view that one is competent, and self-worth refers to the view that one deserves the results of one’s … Continue reading
“Why is he acting this way?” “Why does she do that?” Most people, I find, ask these questions all the time. Therapists get asked this question a lot. My answer is always the same: “He has his reasons.” People do … Continue reading
‘I love this show, this show has been my life — and I love it enough to know when it’s time to say goodbye,” said Oprah Winfrey, proving (even to atheists) that perhaps there is a God, and surely demonstrating … Continue reading
The controversy over how often women should get mammograms illustrates the folly of this administration’s one-size-fits-all approach to medical care. People want guaranteed “universal” coverage, which only the government can enforce. And if government is going to enforce it, government … Continue reading