Comments on: Not a Bad Day http://www.newclarion.com/2009/03/not-a-bad-day/ Our mission is to combat the unreason and selflessness that are sweeping our culture from the nihilist left to the religious right, and to sound a new ideal of capitalism and individual rights in American politics. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 03:04:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Burgess Laughlin http://www.newclarion.com/2009/03/not-a-bad-day/#comment-1174 Burgess Laughlin Fri, 13 Mar 2009 19:34:32 +0000 http://www.newclarion.com/?p=702#comment-1174 In Ch. 3, "Hitler's War Against Reason," Leonard Peikoff discusses the simultaneous dogmatism and pragmatism of the Nazis. In a particular movement or in a particular individual mind, these seemingly incompatible approaches to truth can in fact co-exist. Dr. Peikoff neatly summarizes the Nazi state as "an omniscience that ceaselessly changes its mind." (p. 57, hb) A six-week study group in <a href="http://www.studygroupsforobjectivists.com" rel="nofollow">Study Groups for Objectivists</a> is now half way through looking at five chapters of <i>Ominous Parallels</i>. In Ch. 3, “Hitler’s War Against Reason,” Leonard Peikoff discusses the simultaneous dogmatism and pragmatism of the Nazis. In a particular movement or in a particular individual mind, these seemingly incompatible approaches to truth can in fact co-exist.

Dr. Peikoff neatly summarizes the Nazi state as “an omniscience that ceaselessly changes its mind.” (p. 57, hb)

A six-week study group in Study Groups for Objectivists is now half way through looking at five chapters of Ominous Parallels.

]]> By: Mike N http://www.newclarion.com/2009/03/not-a-bad-day/#comment-1161 Mike N Mon, 09 Mar 2009 22:52:49 +0000 http://www.newclarion.com/?p=702#comment-1161 Andrew: "...and to embrace, unconsciously, the dominant philosophy in the culture. " I agree with that and I think the key word there is 'unconsiously'. As long as Obama keeps gettting the smiling faces of congress and the press, he will think he's doing good, that is, what works. Andrew:
“…and to embrace, unconsciously, the dominant philosophy in the culture. ” I agree with that and I think the key word there is ‘unconsiously’. As long as Obama keeps gettting the smiling faces of congress and the press, he will think he’s doing good, that is, what works.

]]> By: Andrew Dalton http://www.newclarion.com/2009/03/not-a-bad-day/#comment-1159 Andrew Dalton Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:52:56 +0000 http://www.newclarion.com/?p=702#comment-1159 I don't think that these possibilities are mutually exclusive. Pragmatism is an empty philosophy without an answer for *what* is desirable or practical. It leads people to appease the "consensus" and to embrace, unconsciously, the dominant philosophy in the culture. Today that means collectivism. I don’t think that these possibilities are mutually exclusive. Pragmatism is an empty philosophy without an answer for *what* is desirable or practical. It leads people to appease the “consensus” and to embrace, unconsciously, the dominant philosophy in the culture. Today that means collectivism.

]]> By: Mike N http://www.newclarion.com/2009/03/not-a-bad-day/#comment-1158 Mike N Mon, 09 Mar 2009 13:51:18 +0000 http://www.newclarion.com/?p=702#comment-1158 Ed: I agree that Obama is an idealogue. He is just using pragmatism to justify his policies. This is why I don't think he will abandon his policies when they fail. And I agree too that if he became a pure pragmatist maybe he would admit to mistakes and that would be somewhat good for the rest of us. However, I would question "...A movement consisting of varying but associated theories, ..." since It's been my experience that pragmatists eschew all theories as a rule. They can claim to use a principle only so long as it brings the desired results. As soon as it doesn't, the principle is dumped in favor of another or no principle. Ed:
I agree that Obama is an idealogue. He is just using pragmatism to justify his policies. This is why I don’t think he will abandon his policies when they fail. And I agree too that if he became a pure pragmatist maybe he would admit to mistakes and that would be somewhat good for the rest of us.

However, I would question “…A movement consisting of varying but associated theories, …”
since It’s been my experience that pragmatists eschew all theories as a rule. They can claim to use a principle only so long as it brings the desired results. As soon as it doesn’t, the principle is dumped in favor of another or no principle.

]]> By: EdMcGon http://www.newclarion.com/2009/03/not-a-bad-day/#comment-1154 EdMcGon Mon, 09 Mar 2009 09:29:57 +0000 http://www.newclarion.com/?p=702#comment-1154 <i>Pragmatism: A movement consisting of varying but associated theories, originally developed by Charles S. Peirce and William James and distinguished by the doctrine that the meaning of an idea or a proposition lies in its observable practical consequences.</i> Mike, Obama is more likely an ideologue, not a pragmatist. Clinton was a pragmatist. I HOPE Obama becomes a pragmatist. At least then he'd be willing to admit his mistakes. Pragmatism: A movement consisting of varying but associated theories, originally developed by Charles S. Peirce and William James and distinguished by the doctrine that the meaning of an idea or a proposition lies in its observable practical consequences.

Mike,
Obama is more likely an ideologue, not a pragmatist. Clinton was a pragmatist. I HOPE Obama becomes a pragmatist. At least then he’d be willing to admit his mistakes.

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