Response by Roger Donway and Others
This commentary is part of The Atlas Society's 1999 online "CyberSeminar" entitled " The Continental Origins of Postmodernism . "
28 février 2011
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This commentary is part of The Atlas Society's 1999 online "CyberSeminar" entitled " The Continental Origins of Postmodernism . "
Ce commentaire fait partie du "CyberSéminaire" en ligne organisé par l'Atlas Society en 1999 et intitulé "Les origines continentales du postmodernisme".
This commentary is part of The Atlas Society's 1999 online "CyberSeminar" entitled " The Continental Origins of Postmodernism .
Photographer Daniella Zalcman captures a day in the life of entrepreneur Yoanne Magris, a French chef who has parlayed her culinary passion into owning and operating an East Harlem bistro called "Yo In Yo Out." Magris, a whirlwind of productivity, also runs a successful catering business, which includes working three days a week as a private chef for a New York City family. Last fall, Magris competed in the Food Network's popular show Chopped.
Winter 2010 -- In turbulent times like ours, many individuals retreat into a better, fictitious inner world. Some imagine an ancient, Atlantis-like Golden Age. Others live in an internet Sim City game realm. Still others dream of an idyllic, interplanetary sci-fi fantasy future.
The events of September 11 have changed the political landscape in America. Traditional political groups—progressive, liberal, conservative, and libertarian—have found themselves deeply split over the terrorist attacks and the war.
The Freeman recently published an excellent article on so-called insider trading: “ Inside Insider Trading ,” by Warren C. Gibson . Aptly enough, the article is illustrated with a picture of Martha Stewart—who was not prosecuted for insider trading.
The Freeman recently published an excellent article on so-called insider trading: “ Inside Insider Trading ,” by Warren C. Gibson . Aptly enough, the article is illustrated with a picture of Martha Stewart—who was not prosecuted for insider trading.
Doug Bandow, a senier fellow at the Cato Institute, recently had an excellent article in Forbes on insider trading, giving special attention to the Rajaratnam case. http://www.forbes.com/2011/01/20/legalize-insider-trading-economics-opinions-contributors-doug-bandow.html spiderID=1293
Jan/Feb 2008 -- Think playing competitive sports is tough? Sure, the pain of a jarring tackle or the exhaustion after a grueling marathon can push an athlete to the limit. Compared to the business world, however, the pain these individuals go through is slight.
January, 2001 -- In the culture wars of our time, the culture that shaped our world has had no voice.
Independence is a hard virtue to practice because we benefit so much from the values that others in society provide to us. One major class of value from others is all the information they provide us, from the subjects we learn in school… to ethical teachings …to scientific discoveries… to hot gossip… to the news we receive from all over the world. Does being independent mean that we can’t trust any of these sources? Practically everything we know comes to us through others. Right now, for instance, you are receiving advice from another, namely me.
April 2008 -- Reports of poetry’s death have been greatly exaggerated. Proof of life arrives afresh in Walter Donway’s exquisite new book, Touched By Its Rays.
Question: Is it ever okay to initiate force? For example, what if I think my neighbor's tree might conceivably fall on my house, or what if I believe that Iraq is developing nuclear weapons and might attack me? What if I perceive a threat where others do not? Answer: I think the solution lies in the somewhat vague-sounding idea of "clear and present danger."
Question: Why is Martha Stewart's insider trading only bad because it is prohibited? I thought that capitalism needed a free and open market with multiple buyers and sellers or else the market function itself would be in danger; buyers and sellers could not trust it. Insider trading destroys that market function and seems therefore bad in itself. Answer: First, Martha Stewart was not convicted of insider trading. She was convicted of lying to federal law-enforcement agents. However, the underlying reason for her prosecution was an accusation of insider trading.
Question: How might an Objectivist engage in deep reflection and contextual conversation with a person who has been thoroughly steeped in a Judeo-Christian ethic of compassionate servanthood? Answer: You have the most important step already—namely, keep contextual. In other words, remember the context from which this person is speaking. Remember that he may mean something different than you do when he uses words like “faith” or “compassion”. And remember that even though he has embraced a Judeo-Christian ethic, he may not have embraced a fully Judeo-Christian metaphysics. He could hold something of a hodgepodge of different ideas. Being contextual entails discovering the fuller context of what someone means so you can thereby actually engage with their ideas—and not with what you are assuming their ideas to be.
Question: How could an Objectivist rationalize his gossiping if the gossiping is performed to discredit another person?
Question: Why are a person's principles more important than the law? Answer: A person's principles are his means of integrating his knowledge about the world. So when we say "principles," we are speaking of both his knowledge of facts in general and his moral knowledge, about what is of value to him and what he and others ought to do in various contexts.
Objectivism opposes government entitlements that are based on the idea that one person's need is a moral claim that on the productive effort of another. Need is not a claim on wealth, in the Objectivist view.