Comments on: Similarity and Difference http://ronpisaturo.com/blog/2009/04/29/similarity-and-difference/ Sat, 10 Dec 2011 23:04:11 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Revolution at Ron Pisaturo’s Blog http://ronpisaturo.com/blog/2009/04/29/similarity-and-difference/comment-page-1/#comment-2577 Revolution at Ron Pisaturo’s Blog Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:40:14 +0000 http://ronpisaturo.com/blog/?p=379#comment-2577 [...] lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to defy a government that is changing America into a socialist/fascist/statist society? If Iranians can defy the Iranian dictators, if Estonians can stand up to the Soviets, [...] [...] lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to defy a government that is changing America into a socialist/fascist/statist society? If Iranians can defy the Iranian dictators, if Estonians can stand up to the Soviets, [...]

]]> By: Stephen Grossman http://ronpisaturo.com/blog/2009/04/29/similarity-and-difference/comment-page-1/#comment-1382 Stephen Grossman Sun, 24 May 2009 18:10:47 +0000 http://ronpisaturo.com/blog/?p=379#comment-1382 >Now you perceive the first two sticks as similar to each other and different from the third. Tell nominalists that a small circle and a big circle are different, thus they cannot both be circles. The obvious absurdity will encourage honest philosophers to consider, if only implicitly, ranges of measurement. Then they may consider Rand's theory. >Now you perceive the first two sticks as similar to each other and different from the third.

Tell nominalists that a small circle and a big circle are different, thus they cannot both be circles. The obvious absurdity will encourage honest philosophers to consider, if only implicitly, ranges of measurement. Then they may consider Rand’s theory.

]]> By: Ron Pisaturo http://ronpisaturo.com/blog/2009/04/29/similarity-and-difference/comment-page-1/#comment-896 Ron Pisaturo Mon, 04 May 2009 16:18:19 +0000 http://ronpisaturo.com/blog/?p=379#comment-896 First off, it’s clear that ‘Right’ and ‘Left’ are not the best words for the extremes of a political spectrum. Better words are ‘Freedom’ and ‘Coercion’. Ayn Rand defines ‘freedom’ as “the absence of physical coercion.”(<em>Capitalism the Unknown Ideal</em>, p. 46, cited in <em>Glossary of Objectivist Definitions</em>, edited by Allison T. Kunze and Jean Moroney.) I think a decent definition of ‘coercion’ is ‘the initiation of force’. In accordance with those extremes, the political spectrum itself would be the degree to which individuals in a society are free from force initiated either by government or non-government individuals. First off, it’s clear that ‘Right’ and ‘Left’ are not the best words for the extremes of a political spectrum. Better words are ‘Freedom’ and ‘Coercion’. Ayn Rand defines ‘freedom’ as “the absence of physical coercion.”(Capitalism the Unknown Ideal, p. 46, cited in Glossary of Objectivist Definitions, edited by Allison T. Kunze and Jean Moroney.) I think a decent definition of ‘coercion’ is ‘the initiation of force’.

In accordance with those extremes, the political spectrum itself would be the degree to which individuals in a society are free from force initiated either by government or non-government individuals.

]]> By: Burgess Laughlin http://ronpisaturo.com/blog/2009/04/29/similarity-and-difference/comment-page-1/#comment-810 Burgess Laughlin Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:06:27 +0000 http://ronpisaturo.com/blog/?p=379#comment-810 You have covered a lot of ground. You have identified a major confusion (if not dishonesty) about classifying things, and you have identified the philosophical roots of Right vs. Left. How would you define Right and Left? What I am looking for is a concise -- genus and differentia -- definition of each that is useful in discussions with a broad audience. I hope you are open to discussion on this. I have more questions. You have covered a lot of ground. You have identified a major confusion (if not dishonesty) about classifying things, and you have identified the philosophical roots of Right vs. Left.

How would you define Right and Left?

What I am looking for is a concise — genus and differentia — definition of each that is useful in discussions with a broad audience. I hope you are open to discussion on this. I have more questions.

]]>