Human Nature, Philosophy

The Evolution Of Herbert Spencer

The British philosopher Herbert Spencer was a vital player in the developement of theories of evolution in the 19th century. It's important to note that Spencer was one of the first proponents of the theory of socio-cultural evolution, and social...

Posted Wed, Jan 28 2009 by Brainpolice | 1 comment(s)

Filed under: Anarchism, Utilitarianism, Social Evolution, Libertarianism, Philosophy, Human Nature, History, Marxism, Herbert Spencer

Rejecting The Natural/Synthetic Dichotomy

I reject the natural/synthetic dichotomy. The natural/synthetic dichotomy is manifested in two fundamental ways: (1) the assumption that humans and/or human constructs are separate from nature and (2) the assumption that certain human constructs are "natural"...

Posted Sat, Oct 11 2008 by Brainpolice | 4 comment(s)

Filed under: Anarchism, Racism, Social Evolution, Social Contract, Religion, Socialism, Philosophy, Human Nature, conservatism, Environmentalism, History, Primitivism

Is self-ownership a misnomer?

If something is owned, then by definition there is something external to it that is doing the owning. Likewise, something that is owned is by definition something external to the agent that owns it. Taking this very basic point into account, does it really...

Posted Tue, Sep 16 2008 by Brainpolice | 10 comment(s)

Filed under: Objectivism, Ethics, Rational Egoism, Individual Sovereignty, Natural Rights, Libertarianism, Philosophy, Human Nature

False Realism and Utopianism

Conservatism is a defense of the existing order or past existing orders as "natural". Any potential alternative to the existing order or to the romantisized past order is immediately brushed aside as "unnatural" and "utopian"...

Posted Wed, Jun 25 2008 by Brainpolice | 7 comment(s)

Filed under: Determinism, Collectivism, Social Evolution, Equality, Philosophy, Human Nature, conservatism, History, Vulgar Libertarianism, Marxism

Morality, Rationality, Survival and the Law

I was having a bit of a debate with an Objectivist and we got into some questions about morality and rationality. It related to the question of suicide, and I maintained that suicide is irrational but not immoral and that the individual has the liberty...

Posted Tue, Jun 3 2008 by Brainpolice | 1 comment(s)

Filed under: Objectivism, Ethics, Consistancy, Utilitarianism, Aesthetics, Means and Ends, Philosophy, Human Nature, Crime and Punishment

Two Philosophies of History

Political philosophies often involve views of history. There seems to be two fundamental views of history, as I have touched on in " Traditionalism as Stagnation " and " Radicalism and Moderation ". These two views are what I would...

Posted Sat, Apr 12 2008 by Brainpolice | with no comments

Filed under: Social Evolution, Slavery, Libertarianism, Philosophy, Human Nature, History

Altruism Doesn't Exist

Is it really possible for someone to engage in a completely selfless act? A rational exploration of the question must lead to a negative rather then affirmative answer. For isn't it the case that no matter what action one engages in, it involves their...

Posted Tue, Mar 25 2008 by Brainpolice | 26 comment(s)

Filed under: Objectivism, Means and Ends, Self-interest, Rational Egoism, Altruism, Libertarianism, Philosophy, Human Nature, Praxeology

On Human Nature

It is common for humans to be presented as being separate from and even antagonistic with nature. In particular, some radical environmentalists portray human beings as inherently waging war on mother nature, that our existance is intrinsically destructive...

Posted Wed, Jan 2 2008 by Brainpolice | 11 comment(s)

Filed under: Ethics, Determinism, Philosophy, Human Nature, Praxeology, Thomas Hobbes

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