Return to Issue LV.
View TRA's Superstructure Index.
Proceed to Issue LVII.
TRA's Yahoo! Group.
View TRA's Old Master Index.
TRA's Allied Organizations.
TRA's Discussion Forum.
View TRA's List of
Contributors.
Submit Items to TRA.
Culture
Taking Back Our Homes:
May 7,
2006:
The mainstream "pop-culture" is
horrendously depraved, and Rebecca Hagelin gives disturbing examples
of how it is corrupting many American children. Mrs. Hagelin also
gives advice for how parents might counter this trend and raise
individuals with sound moral values.
Economics
The Contrast between the Views of Karl Marx and
Adam Smith:
May 2,
2006:
Karl Marx and Adam Smith are both
frequently categorized as "Classical" economists; they shared a labor
theory of value, but in many other respects, they were diametrical
opposites. Marx loathed the capitalist system, while Smith championed
it. This essay by L.T. details some of the differences between these
two thinkers.
Filosofy
Spinoza on Freedom, Ethics, and Politics:
April 27,
2006:
Dr. Edward W. Younkins presents the
ideas of Benedict de Spinoza, a 17th-century rationalist filosofer who
emfasized the importance of reason, individual moral agency, and
political freedom-- embodied in the separation of state functions from
morality.
Objectivism: Open System or Closed System?:
May
3,
2006:
Andre Zantonavitch argues that the
pervasive debate about whether Objectivism is an "open system" or a
"closed system" has been poorly waged by both sides. Rather,
Objectivism ought to be viewed as a defined system in that it
is a consistent, well-integrated body of thought. However, this means
that Objectivism must be open to change if one of Ayn Rand's ideas is
found to contradict the rest. If one has to choose between the
"open-system" and the "closed-system" labels, the former is definitely
superior.
Historical Analysis
Locke, Natural Rights, and the Sharon Statement:
May 8,
2006:
The Sharon Statement-- drafted by
Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) in 1960-- is an excellent
representative of the Lockean natural rights tradition, writes G.
Stolyarov II. The Sharon Statement constitutes a fundamental defense
of immutable natural liberties, the sanctity of private property, and
the necessity of free markets devoid of state interference.
Locke versus Calhoun on Natural Rights: The
Natural Rightness of Locke:
May 8,
2006:
In his "Disquisition on Government,"
John C. Calhoun attempted to defend slavery by attacking John Locke's
idea of natural rights and the accompanying concept of a state of
nature whence these rights are derived. G. Stolyarov II refutes
Calhoun's argument, points out its numerous fallacies, and vindicates
Lockean natural rights.
Franklin Roosevelt versus Ronald Reagan and the
American Heritage:
May 8,
2006:
G. Stolyarov II contrasts the ideas
on government present in Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1932 "Commonwealth
Club Address" and Ronald Reagan's First Inaugural Address. Roosevelt
considered public welfare considerations to overshadow individual
sovereignty in importance; he was ready to use government power to
force individuals to behave in the “public interest.” Reagan, on the
contrary, represented the American heritage– arguing against
restraints on free enterprise and defending individual sovereignty,
natural rights, and limited government.
Literary Analysis
A Review of Edward W. Younkins's Philosophers
of Capitalism:
May
5, 2006:
G. Stolyarov II reviews a new
anthology edited by Dr. Edward W. Younkins-- a renowned contemporary
scholar of Objectivism and Austrian Economics. He applauds Dr.
Younkins's effort at creating a powerful libertarian synthesis by
integrating the best elements of those two schools of thought.
Order the book
here.
Music
Christopher Schlegel: The Magnanimous Man:
April 28,
2006:
Composer Christopher Schlegel offers
a wonderful work for electric guitar-- his endeavor to use this
instrument for life-affirming, heroic purposes as opposed to the gloom
and despair of many post-modern rockers. This work is named after an
ideal for the human condition expressed by the thinker Aristotle. You
can learn more about the project from which this work came at
http://www.truthagainsttheworld.com/ElectricGuitar/ConcertElectricGuitar.html.
Left-click to play. Right-click to download.
Christopher Schlegel: Tenebrae Circumdare Lumen:
April 28,
2006:
Christopher Schlegel offers another
piece from his collection of original instrumental music for electric
guitar. See the official website of the collection at
http://www.truthagainsttheworld.com/ElectricGuitar/ElectricGuitar.html.
Left-click to play. Right-click to download.
Politics
Tyranny of the Majority?:
May 8,
2006:
Brian Johnston challenges a
widespread and dangerous contemporary conservative belief that the
majority of American voters is infallible and always makes the right
choices. The majority can err, and sometimes disastrously so, and this
is why those who believe in political and economic freedom ought to
continue to actively persuade people to advocate pro-liberty policies.
Landowners' Coalition Demands Repeal of the ESA:
May
9,
2006:
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) is
among the worst laws ever created, having failed to protect 99% of
endangered species and instead giving fanatical environmentalists the
ability to arbitrarily prevent landowners from using their property.
This American Policy Center press release describes a new effort by a
coalition of landowners, businessmen, and thinkers to repeal this
heinous law.
"Not everything that that exists
today is reasonable; but this does not mean that everything that does
not exist is sensible."
~ Ludwig von Mises