Category Archives: Critical Reasoning

The Thing About Fluidity

In physics, a state of matter is one of the distinct forms in which matter can exist. Four states of matter are observable in everyday life: solid, liquid, gas, and plasma. Historically, the distinction is made based on qualitative differences … Continue reading

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The Nature of Evidence

The Nature of Evidence Common Definition: 1) A thing or set of things helpful in forming a conclusion or judgment (Free Dictionary) 2) That which tends to prove or disprove something; ground for belief; proof. (Dictionary.com) 3) Something, including testimony, … Continue reading

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Beware!

I am not a prophet, nor the son of a prophet… but as many have pointed out to me over the years, many things I predicted – based on trends I observed in society – came to pass. I have … Continue reading

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Live Not By Lies

Live Not by Lies taken from: https://www.solzhenitsyncenter.org/live-not-by-lies On the day Solzhenitsyn was arrested, February, 12, 1974, he released the text of “Live Not by Lies.” The next day, he was exiled to the West, where he received a hero’s welcome. … Continue reading

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Cattle Prod

Just so’s ya know: I post things to make people think. I do not have the power to change what they think, but posing questions, making provocative claims, and providing solid sources can result in people rummaging through their minds … Continue reading

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The Moral Justification for Abortion

Picture a maze with one exit… and that exit has something positive waiting outside the exit (like ice cream). Picture the same maze with several entrances – all of which will lead you to the exit. That is what it … Continue reading

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Originalism Part I

———————————————- Originalism is in its simplest terms, reading a text, any text, looking for and sticking to the meaning that the writer had in her/his head when it was originally written. Pretty simple idea, actually. When applied to a way … Continue reading

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From Whence Cometh Our Rights?

“You gotta fight for your right to party!” This famous declaration of independence by a cadre of seasoned philosophers (the Beastie Boys) brings up the most important questions about rights – where do they come from, and how do we … Continue reading

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I Like Laws That Reflect My Values

Back when I taught Critical Reasoning and also Ethics on the college level, students had an option to write a position paper on topics, including abortion. After receiving my Masters degree in 1991, I began teaching – which put it … Continue reading

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Foundational Truth

Foundational Truths: The first premise to my philosophy of life is that I am not omniscient (knowing everything). The first inference from that premise is that since I do not know everything, I may very well be incorrect in my … Continue reading

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