Image of Bearing responsibility for your own existence
Bearing responsibility for your own existence
editorial posted by in braincrave
The higher your self-esteem, the more confidence you have in your ability to cope with life's never-ending challenges. Strong self-esteem is based on many factors, one of which is self-responsibility...
Image of Private security forces
Private security forces
editorial posted by in braincrave
Insurance companies have been getting a lot of negative press lately, especially when it comes to health care. It seems that, generally, people believe that insurance companies exist primarily for so...
Image of TIL: Principles not based on majority vote
TIL: Principles not based on majority vote
editorial posted by in braincrave
Today I Learned that moral principles are not determined by majority vote. FTA: "A majority vote is not an epistemological validation of an idea. Voting is merely a proper political device within...
Image of Epic win - making a better world with video games
Epic win - making a better world with video games
editorial posted by in braincrave
"Gamers are super-empowered hopeful individuals." They are masters at figuring things out, even medical problems. So who wants to use gaming to change the world? There are many problems to address...
Image of Politics by Aristotle
Politics by Aristotle
editorial posted by in braincrave
Written in 350 BCE. 'nuff said. FTA: "Democracy, for example, arises out of the notion that those who are equal in any respect are equal in all respects; because men are equally free, they claim t...
Image of Minorities
Minorities
editorial posted by in braincrave
The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities. - Ayn Rand DISCUSS! Original posting by Braincrave Second Life sta...
Image of People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones
People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones
editorial posted by in braincrave
The US government consists of a bunch of hypocrites. I know, tell you something you don't know, right? Recently, Hillary Clinton and her lackeys at the US State Department released the Country Re...
Adult Education
editorial posted by in braincrave
I believe that Adult Education is best described as a continuous learning process through which adults acquire desired knowledge to satisfy their needs at that time. Adult Education is not restricted...
Image of Put on your thinking caps
Put on your thinking caps
editorial posted by in braincrave
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a process of stimulating the brain with magnetic fields that changes/disrupts the way the neurons work. Is it possible to use TMS to unlock "hidden" cogniti...
Image of Well I'll be a monkey's uncle - evolution is not a matter of faith
Well I'll be a monkey's uncle - evolution is not a matter of faith
editorial posted by in braincrave
Humans and chimpanzees share 96% of the same DNA. In other words, from a scientific perspective, humans and chimpanzees are genetically very similar. As the battle between evolution and intelligen...
Image of Tough love - the philosophy of BDSM
Tough love - the philosophy of BDSM
editorial posted by in braincrave
No doubt about it - we humans have a strong desire for sexual intercourse. It certainly makes sense from an evolutionary perspective, as the desire helps further humanity. But some are programmed for...
Image of Apathy - ignorance going through the motions
Apathy - ignorance going through the motions
editorial posted by in braincrave
Considered the third, best-selling poet of all time, Khalil Gibran once said "Desire is half of life; indifference is half of death." Apathy is defined as having a lack of emotion, interest, or conce...
Image of No victim, no crime: medical marijuana
No victim, no crime: medical marijuana
editorial posted by in braincrave
Though I personally prefer Henry David Thoreau ("That government is best which governs not at all"), in honor of Martin Luther King, an advocate of non-violent civil disobedience... Here's a moral...
Image of The Cult of Moral Grayness
The Cult of Moral Grayness
editorial posted by in braincrave
If I had a nickel for every time someone said to me that I'm too black-or-white, I'd be a rich man. It usually comes up in conversation with anyone that I've known longer than 30 minutes. I even had...
Image of What is love
What is love
editorial posted by in braincrave
In honor of upcoming V-day (and maybe to give you something to talk about over dinner with your significant other)... Love is our response to our highest values. Love is self-enjoyment. The nobles...
Political methodologies
editorial posted by in braincrave
Is there a proper methodology to discuss politics with? DISCUSS! Original posting by Braincrave Second Life staff on Dec 13, 2009 at http://www.braincrave.com/viewblog.php?id=54
Image of Rules vs. principles
Rules vs. principles
editorial posted by in braincrave
Our current culture appears to revolve more around "dos and don'ts," which is to suggest that society appears more focused on rules of what you are and aren't allowed to do. With that premise, perha...
Image of Demagoguery
Demagoguery
editorial posted by in braincrave
Administrator's Introduction: The Greek philosopher Epictetus believed that only the educated are free. With that in mind, BrainCrave.com is more than just bringing people together for dating - it's...
Image of The savages among us
The savages among us
editorial posted by in braincrave
Imagine that you are a human brought to another planet. You are not religious. You haven't any belief in God or the supernatural. On this planet, the aliens are immediately able to cure all your dise...
Image of The examples adults set for children
The examples adults set for children
editorial posted by in braincrave
Why are so many children familiar with the adage "do as I say, not as I do?" The answer should be obvious - because we, as adults, often do things that we don't want our children doing. Let's face it...
Image of Relative vs. absolute morality
Relative vs. absolute morality
editorial posted by in braincrave
Are there absolutes? If so, does absolute morality exist, or is all morality relative? Why or why not? What makes something an absolute? Do objective standards exist for morality? If not, should they...
Image of Could WikiLeaks have prevented 9/11?
Could WikiLeaks have prevented 9/11?
editorial posted by in braincrave
There is enough evidence now to implicate the US government of a massive cover-up of 9/11. At this point, it's ignorant to claim otherwise. Yet, the only ones who suffer from the terrible events of 9...
Image of Are safety and freedom opposites?
Are safety and freedom opposites?
editorial posted by in braincrave
When it comes to protecting civil liberties, it just keeps getting worse. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is now testing what it calls Future Attribute Screening Technology (FAST). It i...
Image of When what you're doing in economics doesn't work, just do more of it
When what you're doing in economics doesn't work, just do more of it
editorial posted by in braincrave
You can call a fish a duck, but that doesn't make it so. Does anyone else find it funny that people claiming to be anarchists - which is, by definition, being against government - are rioting in su...
Image of Taxation is a fight between individualism and collectivism - which side are you on?
Taxation is a fight between individualism and collectivism - which side are you on?
editorial posted by in braincrave
When it comes to politics, it's difficult to say "liberals believe this" or "conservatives believe that." After all, within each political ideology, there are many views; sometimes even views that se...
Image of Imagine... what a wonderful world it would be
Imagine... what a wonderful world it would be
editorial posted by in braincrave
Aristotle spoke of music as having "influence over the character and the soul." He noted that "Rhythm and melody supply imitations of anger and gentleness, and also of courage and temperance, and of...
Image of Anti-philosophy
Anti-philosophy
editorial posted by in braincrave
Philosophy is effectively the study of the fundamental, universal principles of existence. Are we ignoring both reality and philosophy when we claim that universal principals don't exist (e.g., that...
Defending economic morality
editorial posted by in braincrave
The collectivists assert the socialist moral imperative that the highest good for each individual is to live for the sake of others (e.g., for the good of "society"). Marx summed it up perfectly: "Fr...
Image of What happened to the "we" in "yes we can?"
What happened to the "we" in "yes we can?"
editorial posted by in braincrave
How we do like to complain about politicians. We vote them into office (well, some don't vote) and expect them to change the world. To reduce war. To make our lives better. To keep their promises. Af...
Image of What friends are for
What friends are for
editorial posted by in braincrave
Historically, friendship was based on shared values. Ayn Rand considered friendship as "the emotional response of one man to the virtues of another, the spiritual payment given in exchange for the pe...
Image of Government charity and welfare
Government charity and welfare
editorial posted by in braincrave
H.L. Mencken once wrote "Every decent man is ashamed of the government he lives under." This is an amazing story about Davy Crockett and how he learned what it means to uphold your principles. Why ar...
Image of The ethics of the placebo effect
The ethics of the placebo effect
editorial posted by in braincrave
A placebo is a sham or simulated medical intervention by a doctor in which some patients experience actual improvements in their conditions. Although it doesn't work on everyone, these effects in pat...
Image of For God's sake
For God's sake
editorial posted by in braincrave
Possibly suggesting that religious beliefs were necessary for maintaining social order, Voltaire once wrote: "If God did not exist, he would have to be invented." Karl Marx agreed, calling it the "o...
Image of What is freedom
What is freedom
editorial posted by in braincrave
People always complain that freedom, self-rule, and/or anarchy are unworkable and too extreme. Why are any of those more radical or extreme than going into $14 trillion of debt, being in a permanent...
Image of Eliminate all corporations
Eliminate all corporations
editorial posted by in braincrave
One of the problems with democracy is that it leads to corporatism. "Corporatism is a system where businesses are nominally in private hands, but are in fact controlled by the government. In a corpor...
Image of Slut walks, rape, and hypocrisy - what's eye candy got to do with it?
Slut walks, rape, and hypocrisy - what's eye candy got to do with it?
editorial posted by in braincrave
How we do love eye-candy. And, after all, "since when is a woman dressing sexy in public a bad thing?" By now, you've probably heard about the various "slut walks" that are happening all over the...
Image of Feeding the homeless banned
Feeding the homeless banned
editorial posted by in braincrave
Meanwhile, as people in Haiti continue to starve in a country "occupied" by 10,000 aid organizations under the government umbrella of the United Nations (an organization designed for war)... They're...
Image of If women ruled the world
If women ruled the world
editorial posted by in braincrave
Do a search on the web and you'll find all sorts of criteria for what makes an effective leader. People can't even seem to agree on the definition of leadership. As a result, theories abound. But wha...
Image of The unreasonable man
The unreasonable man
editorial posted by in braincrave
The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man. - George Bernard Shaw...
Image of Too Good to Be True
Too Good to Be True
editorial posted by in braincrave
For too long, our society has been tainted by this adage... this taboo of good things. Why, oh why, is this? A product of our psyche? A product of shared cultural values? Or, is it really undeniably...
Image of TIL all numbers do not equal all other numbers
TIL all numbers do not equal all other numbers
editorial posted by in braincrave
Today I learned through math that Aristotle was correct on the law of identify (i.e., A = A), and that everything that exists does have a specific nature. Specifically, all numbers do not equal all o...
Image of Astronomical economic numbers
Astronomical economic numbers
editorial posted by in braincrave
The Noble physicist Richard Feynman once said "There are 10^11 stars in the galaxy. That used to be a huge number. But it's only a hundred billion. It's less than the national deficit! We used to cal...
Image of The rationality of alternative medicine
The rationality of alternative medicine
editorial posted by in braincrave
As many mourn the death of Apple founder Steve Jobs, they use words such as visionary, brilliant, innovative, leader, entrepreneur, capitalist, and philanthropic to describe him. Many aren't aware th...
Image of End justifies means?
End justifies means?
editorial posted by in braincrave
The end does not justify the means; you cannot achieve anything good by evil means. No one's rights can be secured by the violation of the rights of others. - Ayn Rand DISCUSS! Original posting...
Image of Do we need morality?
Do we need morality?
editorial posted by in braincrave
Ayn Rand claimed that morality is a "code of values to guide man's choices and actions - the choices and actions that determine the purpose and the course of his life. Ethics, as a science, deals wit...
Image of The Horse in the Plain
The Horse in the Plain
editorial posted by in braincrave
Once upon a time, in a land far away which has nothing at all in common with the world we humans inhabit, a horse was running free in the plain. He longed to climb up the mountains and see the world...
Image of It doesn't always get better, so stop faking what's real
It doesn't always get better, so stop faking what's real
editorial posted by in braincrave
It was all the rage. Following 14-year old Jamey Rodemeyer's tearful "It Gets Better, I promise!" video, in which he tried to show how positive he was in the face of gay bullying, other well-know...
Image of Book club - The Fountainhead
Book club - The Fountainhead
editorial posted by in braincrave
BrainCrave.com Book Club starting now. We will attempt to do this in group chat unless there is significant lag. If so, we'll switch to local. Please join us at Within Ten Years http://www.braincr...
Image of War - can't we all just get along?
War - can't we all just get along?
editorial posted by in braincrave
Besides death and taxes, there is arguably another clear constant in the world: war. Seemingly at all times, someone, somewhere, is always using violence to either get what they want or protect what...
Image of The failure of unions and socialism
The failure of unions and socialism
editorial posted by in braincrave
Someone once made a comment that he was 100% supportive of a tyrannical, socialist government as long as he was the only citizen of his country (paraphrased). Throughout the world, and especially in...
Image of Disobeying an unjust law
Disobeying an unjust law
editorial posted by in braincrave
A few days ago, the US celebrated a holiday dedicated to Martin Luther King, Jr. A prominent leader of the civil rights movement, he was a huge proponent of civil disobedience. As the "did they kill...
Image of Political regression and the meaning of words
Political regression and the meaning of words
editorial posted by in braincrave
John Adams once wrote "Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor, or private interest of any one man...
Image of Let's raise the debt ceiling to $1 quadrillion
Let's raise the debt ceiling to $1 quadrillion
editorial posted by in braincrave
Remember the guy who talked about change? Where'd he go? In 2006, Obama said this: The fact that we are here today to debate raising America's debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a...
Image of Child exploitation
Child exploitation
editorial posted by in braincrave
If we are to believe UNICEF, there are about 158 million children aged 5-14 engaged in child labor, "working in hazardous situations or conditions." Most people give this a scary name like "child ex...
Image of Japanese inspiration
Japanese inspiration
editorial posted by in braincrave
If we don't stand for something, then we stand for nothing. In her famous novel Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand asks through Dr. Robert Stadler: "Have you ever felt the longing for someone you could admire?...
Image of How to be a good person
How to be a good person
editorial posted by in braincrave
What does it mean to be a "good" person? Is there an objective way to define good? Is there a specific procedure/method to evaluate something as good? Does defining the good in life even matter? Assu...
Image of Better ideas - the Socratic method
Better ideas - the Socratic method
editorial posted by in braincrave
Socrates, the philosopher who claimed the contradiction "I know that I know nothing," provided us with a method to help us question what we think we know and to demonstrate otherwise: the Socratic me...
Image of Politics - a zero-sum game
Politics - a zero-sum game
editorial posted by in braincrave
In politics, it seems that everything is an issue. Why? Because everything that politicians do is based on wealth redistribution - taking from one person and giving to another. As a result, politics...
Image of Empathy - can you feel me?
Empathy - can you feel me?
editorial posted by in braincrave
As a soft science, sociology is the study of the social behavior of humans in the pursuit of social welfare. Dr. Sam Richards suggests that the sociological analysis of the various aspects in your ow...
Image of Objective truths and abortion
Objective truths and abortion
editorial posted by in braincrave
There's a new 5-day "morning-after" pill that's been tested for US approval (New 5-Day 'Morning-After' Pill Tested For U.S. Approval). Some people say the choice to abort is moral and use various...
Image of What's an hour of your life worth?
What's an hour of your life worth?
editorial posted by in braincrave
So many consider money as the primary asset in life. Sometimes we are so caught up in the "rat race" that we forget that money, and each possession we acquire from it, costs us something very valuabl...
Image of Gaming theory - why it matters and a definition
Gaming theory - why it matters and a definition
editorial posted by in braincrave
As this is an article about the theory of games, I thought that, as I intend to do this systematically, I should start with a brief post defining what a game actually is. You might think that I could...
Image of The seven blunders of the world that lead to violence
The seven blunders of the world that lead to violence
editorial posted by in braincrave
When it comes to non-violent, ideological leaders, Mahatma Gandhi has got to be toward the very top of the list. His resistance to British tyranny through mass civil disobedience is famous. Needless...
Image of Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand's vision and warning
Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand's vision and warning
editorial posted by in braincrave
There's an adage that goes: if you've got enemies, it means you stood up for something in life. Out of all of the potential philosophies that you could adopt in your life, perhaps none may be more co...
Your philosophical premises
editorial posted by in braincrave
What are your premises for your life? Have you ever thought of your philosophical base in concrete terms? What principles do you uphold and to which do you just pay lip-service? Were your premises de...
Image of The social contract defined and demolished in less than 5 minutes
The social contract defined and demolished in less than 5 minutes
editorial posted by in braincrave
By definition, a contract has to be an agreement. It's intellectually dishonest to call something a contract without an agreement. To paraphrase Lysander Spooner, a contract made hundreds of years ag...
Image of Critical thinking
Critical thinking
editorial posted by in braincrave
Ayn Rand wrote that the process of thinking "is the process of defining identity and discovering causal connections." She claimed that thinking is a choice - not an automatic function - and she admon...
Image of What's worth dying for?
What's worth dying for?
editorial posted by in braincrave
In the movie Braveheart, William Wallace says, "Every man dies, not every man really lives." For thousands of years, people have thought about the values to live for. Aristotle suggest we should live...
Image of The irony of political agreement
The irony of political agreement
editorial posted by in braincrave
It appears the "natives are getting restless." Liberals were "up in arms" (pun intended) because the organization Oath Keepers is preparing for violent revolt. They blasted Tea Partiers for purported...
Image of Making money from what you love
Making money from what you love
editorial posted by in braincrave
What do you love? What are your passions? Have any hobbies? Want to make some money from them? With the economy suffering, many continue to look for other income sources. Granted, many of the article...
Image of Good form - etiquette and manners for politeness
Good form - etiquette and manners for politeness
editorial posted by in braincrave
Good etiquette facilitates relationships, and good relationships help us live better lives. We've previously discussed proper manners in communications. Continuing in our etiquette and manners series...
Image of Administering justice through self-injury
Administering justice through self-injury
editorial posted by in braincrave
Pain is a part of life, and we all have different ways to deal with it. In what might appear to be a strange contradiction, some even go so far as to self-inflict pain in order to avoid pain. It's al...
Image of Ayn Rand: The Wired Interview (1998)
Ayn Rand: The Wired Interview (1998)
editorial posted by in braincrave
I'm a month late on this, for the spotlight of public attention, but I have an Ayn Rand story, too. 11 years ago I blind-pitched Wired magazine an ill-defined article on Rand. In response, they asked...
Image of Science and morality
Science and morality
editorial posted by in braincrave
Are human values detached from science? Many, such as moral relativists, argue that morality has little, if anything, to do with reality. Science attempts to prove what reality is through an objectiv...
Image of Have you no shame, and whose fault is that?
Have you no shame, and whose fault is that?
editorial posted by in braincrave
You sometimes have to wonder why teaching children seems to be more complicated than rocket science. There are many valid debates in education as to the proper conditions required for a child to lear...
Image of Does porn hurt relationships? Science says no
Does porn hurt relationships? Science says no
editorial posted by in braincrave
Porn is like bacon: some won't eat it for religious reasons, some consider it filthy, some feel guilty after eating it, but everyone else (which is most of the population) loves it. Funny enough, sci...
Image of Dealing with pain during the holidays
Dealing with pain during the holidays
editorial posted by in braincrave
The holidays are often difficult, and can be downright depressing, especially for those who have pain from a loss, a traumatic experience, or just plain loneliness (e.g., not having a date for holida...
Image of The enemy to slay in a constant state of emergency
The enemy to slay in a constant state of emergency
editorial posted by in braincrave
Ron Paul famously said of neocons: The neoconservative ethos, steeped in the teachings of Leo Strauss, cannot abide an America where individuals simply pursue their happy, peaceful, prosperous l...
Image of The courage to resist
The courage to resist
editorial posted by in braincrave
Winning people's hearts and minds through ideas is one way to affect change, but it's a very, very slow process. Most would consider it "impractical." For those who want to implement change quicker,...
Image of Desires are not rights
Desires are not rights
editorial posted by in braincrave
All economic goods must be produced by someone. They aren't gifts of nature or something that can be conjured up by waiving a magic wand. Somehow, people have gotten the false idea that it is governm...
Image of TIL: The media can legally lie
TIL: The media can legally lie
editorial posted by in braincrave
Today I Learned that the media can legally lie. FTA: In February 2003, a Florida Court of Appeals unanimously agreed with an assertion by FOX News that there is no rule against distorting or...
Image of If I voted, Ron Paul is the man I would vote for
If I voted, Ron Paul is the man I would vote for
editorial posted by in braincrave
First, let me make this perfectly clear: I am an anarchist (or, more specifically, an anarcho-capitalist). I do not support any kind of government, including a president. The last election I voted in...
Image of The definition of integrity
The definition of integrity
editorial posted by in braincrave
Can a person strive to be something that he doesn't understand? Take integrity: are you a person of integrity? If so, how do you know? Is integrity always associated with virtue, or is integrity amor...
Image of Selling organs for education
Selling organs for education
editorial posted by in braincrave
Nowadays, you have to take on massive amounts of debt to go to college, only to graduate and find that there aren't any jobs available. So you leave college, go back to living with your parents, and...
Image of Mixed economy fundamentals
Mixed economy fundamentals
editorial posted by in braincrave
There's a funny sign that reads: "Confused Socialist Party. Smash capitalism! Then blog about it on your $2500 Macbook." All of the major economies in the world are known as mixed economies. You migh...
Image of Love is...
Love is...
editorial posted by in braincrave
My answer is that love is... Contemplation. Many would tell you that love is something beautiful and powerful. They might tell you that it is inexplicable and entirely irrational. They would be...
Image of Standards of love
Standards of love
editorial posted by in braincrave
Have you ever seen posts on social networks where someone will say to all of her friends indiscriminately "I love you all!" or something to that effect? Well, if the Beatles were right, that all you...
Image of US has highest prison population - why?
US has highest prison population - why?
editorial posted by in braincrave
Let this sink in for a moment: the United States has the highest prisoner population rate in the world. That's right, even more than China. (And, no - that doesn't include all of the hidden prisons i...
Image of The true story of Thanksgiving
The true story of Thanksgiving
editorial posted by in braincrave
As Thanksgiving rolls around to the US, children will be taught the false story of the first Thanksgiving (just one of many myths children are taught). The real story is a case study that teaches a v...
No way not to consent
editorial posted by in braincrave
Many of you here have often made the claim that you consent to the "social compact" by living where you live, or receiving the benefits from the state that you do. How can you call it consent if ther...
Image of Ethics in the marketplace
Ethics in the marketplace
editorial posted by in braincrave
When people argue against capitalism (aka the free market), almost never do they argue from an efficiency perspective. Instead, the arguments typically claim capitalism exploits the working class by...
Image of Cloning - playing God
Cloning - playing God
editorial posted by in braincrave
In 1996, Dolly the sheep made headlines around the world as the first mammal to be successfully cloned. As a result of the experiment, President Clinton ordered research into the legal and ethical is...
Image of What men are made of - 'ifs'
What men are made of - 'ifs'
editorial posted by in braincrave
Robert LeFevre is said "If men are good, you don't need government; if men are evil or ambivalent, you don't dare have one." What is it that makes a good man? What are the aspirations of a good man?...
Image of Dating in the Atlasphere... Bringing Love to the Fans of Ayn Rand
Dating in the Atlasphere... Bringing Love to the Fans of Ayn Rand
editorial posted by in braincrave
Though I understand that www.braincrave.com and The Atlasphere are technically competitors, at a higher level of abstraction, their goals overlap. This is a brilliant video that discusses some of the...
Image of Space and "empty space": Much ado about nothing, or is it?
Space and "empty space": Much ado about nothing, or is it?
editorial posted by in braincrave
Space is a concept which is very rarely correctly understand by anybody, including modern physicists. However, the purpose of this essay is not to discuss the confusions of others in relation to this...
Image of O Me! O Life! and being thankful for what you have
O Me! O Life! and being thankful for what you have
editorial posted by in braincrave
Monty Python famously sang "life's a piece of shit when you look at it." There's also the adage that, if everyone threw all their problems on the table, most would reach back down and pick up their...
Image of The Davies Certainty Principle (Two-Minute Case Against The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle)
The Davies Certainty Principle (Two-Minute Case Against The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle)
editorial posted by in braincrave
Most of you are probably aware of the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle. It states that it is not possible to know the precise position and momentum of subatomic particles such as electrons. (There is...
Image of The truth meter
The truth meter
editorial posted by in braincrave
Is there any circumstance in which the government should be a gate-keeper of information? What are the benefits of holding back information vs. letting information flow freely? FTA: "In a recent c...
Image of Breaking the laws of physics - will philosophy become more important?
Breaking the laws of physics - will philosophy become more important?
editorial posted by in braincrave
Just when you thought you understood how the world works, the tachyons come to shake things up. For those who haven't heard by now, the masterminds at CERN who brought you the LHC rap have made wh...