Denial is an emotional hearing problem, or emotional deafness. With auditory deafness, the problem is sensory; with denial, the problem is conceptual. Denial is a combination of a refusal to think carefully and an acceptance of a conclusion that isn’t … Continue reading
Category: Daily Dose of Reason
What Do YOU Think?
Sacrifice of the self, at the core, means sacrifice of your own mind to the mind of another (or others). This automatically sets into a motion a motivation of caring about what others think, because the primary standard becomes HIS … Continue reading
McCain: Old Man, Old Ideas
In his victory speech, Republicrat John McCain spoke of what he sees as the value of holding principles above oneself. I don’t understand. If I value the principle of freedom above myself, then does this mean I am not supposed … Continue reading
Weird, Or Just Different?
Q: I feel different from other people. I’m not weird, but I’m in the minority and I don’t fit into any stereotypical “box.” How can I deal with this feeling? A: Actually, some people ARE uncomfortable with the unusual or … Continue reading
Are Values Objective?
Q: Dr. Hurd, how can you say that values are objective and not relative? Isn’t this like saying that chocolate is the right flavor, and vanilla is the wrong one? Or that being a surgeon is the right career and … Continue reading
What I Think of Ron Paul
Q: From your Living Resources Newsletter, you said to “Show me a candidate who actually stands for individual rights and freedom”, and I was wondering if you’d heard anything about Ron Paul. I quote from his website: “Congressman Ron Paul … Continue reading
The Popularity of Populism
What’s all this talk about “populism” in the presidential campaign? We’re being told that the most “populist” candidates are so far winning. Evidently it’s popular to bash Wall Street, capitalism, or even the nature of profit and prosperity, as such. … Continue reading
Success Is Objective, Not Relative
Success, like happiness, is an objective standard, not a relative one. If you make more money than your competitor, this says little about your success. Your success is defined by the relationship among: the use of your mind, your efforts … Continue reading
Ideas RIP: 1776-2008
I suppose Election 2008 is the result of ideology being dead. Take a look at the winners thus far. You have Mike Huckabee, who says nothing in particular about anything. You have Barack Obama, who says everything there is to … Continue reading
For the Kids
Q: Dr. Hurd, do you think it’s right or wrong for parents with growing children to divorce? Should they stay together for the sake of the children? A: The premise of the question is that the primary obligation of parents … Continue reading
Welcome, 2008
Nearly everybody complains that politicians are dishonest–yet the most dishonest ones stand the best chance of winning. (For details, check out the front runners in this year’s race). Nearly everyone agrees that education is a paramount value, and that public … Continue reading
Love of Power
Is power the reason you love the accomplishment? Or is accomplishment the reason you acknowledge the power?