George H. Smith Posted August 7, 2015 Author Share Posted August 7, 2015 Freethought and Freedom: Jean Meslier and the Catholic Church Smith explains the role of the Catholic Church in the French government, and how Meslier reconciled his atheism with his role as a priest. My Libertarianism.org Essay #179 is now up. Ghs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George H. Smith Posted August 15, 2015 Author Share Posted August 15, 2015 Freethought and Freedom: Jean Meslier and Christian Ethics Smith explains Meslier’s three major objections to Christian morality, as taught by Jesus. My Libertarianism.org Essay #180 is now available. Ghs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthony Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 Listening to Part One: AR and Altruism raises again how deeply embedded have been Comte's notions right until today. Though nobody could or would, now or ever, absorb and use them in totality (they are so ludicrous and vicious) - still, his 'ideal' remains behind as the ultimate we must aim for, with guilt the cost for ever falling short. I'm fairly certain that Rand applied herself directly against the Comtean version (even if she didn't read all of his spewings), not today's usually diluted remnants of 'acceptable' and reciprocal altruism, and fired back in kind with her own uncompromising radical egoism. His strong poison needed her stronger antidote. The general failure to practise altruism a la Comte, tells of its anti-mind/human premises - but being unable to consistently practise anything as wrong as this never seems to put people fully off (quite the contrary...). Thanks Ghs, you give a really good broad view and insight here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George H. Smith Posted August 20, 2015 Author Share Posted August 20, 2015 The Libertarianism.org podcast of my Essay #56 is now available. Much of this piece discusses my objections to Brennan's portrayal of Ayn Rand's ideas. http://www.libertarianism.org/media/excursions/instead-review-commentary-libertarianism-what-everyone-needs-know-jason-brennan-0#.f289p2:xWBv Instead of a Review: A Commentary on Libertarianism: What Everyone Needs to Know, by Jason Brennan, Part 2 Ghs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George H. Smith Posted August 21, 2015 Author Share Posted August 21, 2015 Freethought and Freedom: The Political Theory of Jean Meslier Smith critically examines the claim that Meslier was a communist anarchist. My Libertarianism.org Essay #181 has been posted. Ghs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George H. Smith Posted August 26, 2015 Author Share Posted August 26, 2015 The Libertarianism.org podcast of my Essay 57 has been posted. This is the third part of my commentary on Jason Brennan's book, Libertarianism: What Everyone Needs to Know.Ghs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George H. Smith Posted September 4, 2015 Author Share Posted September 4, 2015 Freethought and Freedom: Jean Meslier on Property Was Meslier a communist? Smith explores this tricky issue. My Libertarianism.org Essay #182 has been posted. Ghs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George H. Smith Posted September 9, 2015 Author Share Posted September 9, 2015 The Libertarianism.org podcast of my Essay #59 is now available. Ghs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George H. Smith Posted September 11, 2015 Author Share Posted September 11, 2015 Freethought and Freedom: The Christian Theory of Property Smith discusses the traditional Christian theory of private property and how it was viewed as the result of original sin. My Libertarianism.org Essay #183 has been posted. Ghs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guyau Posted September 12, 2015 Share Posted September 12, 2015 Very interesting, George.I was going to criticize you and Augustine and pals for neglecting the element in the story of the Fall more basic than absence of property, government, and slavery: absence of the need to labor. As I had recalled the story, all goods would have been general goods, like air for us to this day. And of course “common property” is seriously different from that.But checking the biblical text just now, I see there was a great difference between the nature of the need for labor before and after the Wrong Apple affair, but in the before, it was not zero. It says that God had made a pleasant and food-bearing garden, and he put the man he made into the garden to till it and care for it. In the after, Wotan God said to the man “accursed shall be the ground on your account. With labour you shall win your food from it all the days of your life. It will grow thorns and thistles for you, none but wild plants for you to eat. You shall gain your bread by the sweat of your brow.”Bastiat rightly said “labor is pain itself.” I’ve got a hand all taped up right now from pulling too many weeds yesterday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brant Gaede Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 If you plant weeds you'll not need to pull them up. Here's the secret: there's no need to plant weeds; they plant themselves. Win-win.--Brantback to nature (and common sense) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George H. Smith Posted September 18, 2015 Author Share Posted September 18, 2015 Freethought and Freedom: Early Christianity and the Modern Libertarian Movement Does the modern libertarian movement have any significant similarities to the early Christian movement? Smith explores this intriguing possibility. My Libertarianism.org Essay #184 has been posted. Ghs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brant Gaede Posted September 19, 2015 Share Posted September 19, 2015 Who's Jesus?--Brant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Selene Posted September 19, 2015 Share Posted September 19, 2015 Who's Jesus?--BrantThe Latino "Heysuss" will be deported, don't sweat it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George H. Smith Posted September 23, 2015 Author Share Posted September 23, 2015 The Libertarianism.org podcast of my Essay #60 has been posted. Ghs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George H. Smith Posted September 25, 2015 Author Share Posted September 25, 2015 Freethought and Freedom: The Secularization of Private Property Smith contrasts the modern secular approach to private property with the traditional Christian theory. My Libertarianism.org Essay #185 has been posted. Ghs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George H. Smith Posted October 2, 2015 Author Share Posted October 2, 2015 Freethought and Freedom: Private Property and Natural Law Smith continues his discussion of how the theory of private property changed over the centuries. My Libertarianism.org Essay #186 has been posted. Ghs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George H. Smith Posted October 9, 2015 Author Share Posted October 9, 2015 Freethought and Freedom: John Locke on Property Smith discusses Locke’s view of the original commons, before the institution of private property. My Libertarianism.org Essay #187 has been posted. Ghs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George H. Smith Posted October 19, 2015 Author Share Posted October 19, 2015 John Locke: The Justification of Private Property In his first essay in a new series on John Locke, Smith explains some essential features of Locke’s case for private property. My Libertarianism.org Essay #188 has been posted. Ghs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolf DeVoon Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 "every Man has a Property in his own Person"As my constitutional law professor used to say repeatedly, an assertion is not an argument. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George H. Smith Posted October 19, 2015 Author Share Posted October 19, 2015 "every Man has a Property in his own Person" As my constitutional law professor used to say repeatedly, an assertion is not an argument. So? Ghs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikee Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 That particular assertion reflects a basic insight into human nature. It is a premise which should guide your interactions with human beings. Ignore at your own risk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolf DeVoon Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 "every Man has a Property in his own Person"As my constitutional law professor used to say repeatedly, an assertion is not an argument.So?GhsLocke asserts the proposition, has no proof. Nothing wrong with your scholarship as such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George H. Smith Posted October 19, 2015 Author Share Posted October 19, 2015 "every Man has a Property in his own Person" As my constitutional law professor used to say repeatedly, an assertion is not an argument. So? Ghs Locke asserts the proposition, has no proof. As your constitutional law professor used to say repeatedly, an assertion is not an argument. Ghs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolf DeVoon Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 Mr. Smith, if you believe that Locke proved or established by reasoned inference that you have a property interest in yourself, please say so and give us a hint what it might be. With thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now