Posted by Henry
Earlier I reviewed this book, giving it an endorsement. Even though the book has been out only about a year it has done well enough that it has been reissued to incorporate some recent developments that further support the book's thesis (i.e., to the extent that there is global warming it is predominantly a natural phenomenon). The revised version reorganizes the previous content while updating it. If you haven't read the first version, here is your second chance!
Monday, December 31, 2007
The Psychology of Romantic Love: Reissued
Posted by Henry
Just discovered that an updated version of Nathaniel Branden's The Psychology of Romantic Love is being released on January 31, 2008. I have not seen a copy so I don't know how much has been changed. Here is the description from Amazon.
Just discovered that an updated version of Nathaniel Branden's The Psychology of Romantic Love is being released on January 31, 2008. I have not seen a copy so I don't know how much has been changed. Here is the description from Amazon.
"Originally published in 1980, this updated edition of The Psychology of Romantic Love explores the nature of romantic love on many levels-the philosophical, the historical, the sociological, and the physiological. Nathaniel Branden explains why so many people say that romantic love is just not possible in today's world and-drawing on his experience with thousands of couples-finds that such love is still a possibility for anyone who understands its essence and is willing to accept its challenges."
Friday, December 21, 2007
U.S. Senate Report: Over 400 Prominent Scientists Disputed Man-Made Global Warming Claims in 2007
Posted by Henry
Al Gore's mantra has been that the debate is over: reputable scientists agree that global warming is caused by human activities. This document on the U. S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works web site says otherwise.
Al Gore's mantra has been that the debate is over: reputable scientists agree that global warming is caused by human activities. This document on the U. S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works web site says otherwise.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Of Principles and Deductibles
Posted by Henry
Once when my family and I went shopping at a local mall we returned several hours later but could not find our car. Fortunately (for me, anyway), the car was not mine. My employer leased the car, which meant I did not have to face the expense and aggravation of waiting to see if the car was going to be recovered undamaged and renting another one while hoping that the missing car would be returned. I was shocked, however, when I totaled the value of my family’s personal belongings that we lost with the car. These belongings included a set of jumper cables, a road atlas, coats, our cellular phone, cassette tapes and – worst of all – a day-old copy of Nathaniel Branden’s The Art of Living Consciously. I filed a claim under my homeowner’s policy which has a $250 deductible and pays actual cash value instead of replacement value (unless I happened to have original receipts for the items that were missing, which I did not have). I reported the list of belongings and their value as accurately as I could.
A couple of months later I told this story to some relatives at my niece’s First Communion party. One of them asked if I had recouped my deductible and replacement cost by claiming I had more in the car, like a designer suit or a notebook computer. She asked in a manner suggesting I would have been naïve had I not exaggerated the values. Instead, I proudly said: “My character and principles are worth more than $250.” The response was interesting. Dead silence. Finally, she said, feebly: “Well, I suppose you have to be able to look at yourself in the mirror.” She then changed the subject.
I noticed an irony in this incident. This encounter occurred in a room full of Christians who had gathered to celebrate the First Communion yet they also supported lying in order to recoup a loss. This lie amounts to stealing from the insurance company’s other policyholders. It also amounts to my unilaterally (and without notification) rewriting the terms of a contract I had voluntarily signed with the insurer.
In any case, I chose to summarize my position in one statement rather than explaining ad infinitum all of my reasons. I felt that going into all of these reasons would have undercut the impact of my proudly proclaiming that my integrity is worth infinitely more than a couple of hundred dollars. The stunned silence I received shows my hunch was right.
I concluded from this incident that sometimes we can make a bigger impact by how we deal with “small” issues like this rather than pontificating at length on more abstract issues such as capital punishment or abortion, which we don’t face in our day-to-day life. We can set a vivid example of what it means to live by our principles. We can also show that living according to an ethics of self-interest does not mean we’ll resort to anything to get what we want.
Posted by Henry
Once when my family and I went shopping at a local mall we returned several hours later but could not find our car. Fortunately (for me, anyway), the car was not mine. My employer leased the car, which meant I did not have to face the expense and aggravation of waiting to see if the car was going to be recovered undamaged and renting another one while hoping that the missing car would be returned. I was shocked, however, when I totaled the value of my family’s personal belongings that we lost with the car. These belongings included a set of jumper cables, a road atlas, coats, our cellular phone, cassette tapes and – worst of all – a day-old copy of Nathaniel Branden’s The Art of Living Consciously. I filed a claim under my homeowner’s policy which has a $250 deductible and pays actual cash value instead of replacement value (unless I happened to have original receipts for the items that were missing, which I did not have). I reported the list of belongings and their value as accurately as I could.
A couple of months later I told this story to some relatives at my niece’s First Communion party. One of them asked if I had recouped my deductible and replacement cost by claiming I had more in the car, like a designer suit or a notebook computer. She asked in a manner suggesting I would have been naïve had I not exaggerated the values. Instead, I proudly said: “My character and principles are worth more than $250.” The response was interesting. Dead silence. Finally, she said, feebly: “Well, I suppose you have to be able to look at yourself in the mirror.” She then changed the subject.
I noticed an irony in this incident. This encounter occurred in a room full of Christians who had gathered to celebrate the First Communion yet they also supported lying in order to recoup a loss. This lie amounts to stealing from the insurance company’s other policyholders. It also amounts to my unilaterally (and without notification) rewriting the terms of a contract I had voluntarily signed with the insurer.
In any case, I chose to summarize my position in one statement rather than explaining ad infinitum all of my reasons. I felt that going into all of these reasons would have undercut the impact of my proudly proclaiming that my integrity is worth infinitely more than a couple of hundred dollars. The stunned silence I received shows my hunch was right.
I concluded from this incident that sometimes we can make a bigger impact by how we deal with “small” issues like this rather than pontificating at length on more abstract issues such as capital punishment or abortion, which we don’t face in our day-to-day life. We can set a vivid example of what it means to live by our principles. We can also show that living according to an ethics of self-interest does not mean we’ll resort to anything to get what we want.
Posted by Henry
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Health Care Article
Posted by Henry
Here is a link to a new article that has been posted in The Objective Standard. It relates to our
earlier post on this subject. Given that health care is likely to be a central issue of the upcoming Presidential campaign this essay is well worth reading.
Here is a link to a new article that has been posted in The Objective Standard. It relates to our
earlier post on this subject. Given that health care is likely to be a central issue of the upcoming Presidential campaign this essay is well worth reading.
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