Philosophy

In this episode of Reason at Large, Craig Biddle discusses what the so-called poor owe the rich, focusing on several of the many things for which the poor should thank the rich, including the goods and services they produce, the jobs they make possible, the legitimate aspects of government they…

In his Salon article “Ayn Rand Could Have Learned from the Arizona Firefighters,” Robert Reich presumes that the nineteen firefighters who lost their lives June 30 while battling a wildfire in Arizona chose their dangerous profession based on “something other than rational self-interest”: Like the first-responders to 9/11 and other…

In a July 8 episode of The 700 Club, Pat Robertson rejected civil rights, which, he conceded, underpinned the recent Supreme Court rulings concerning homosexual marriage. And for some reason now the Supreme Court has said homosexuality is now a constitutional right and homosexual marriage, this decision that was handed…

Do we properly have freedom from religion? Some say no. In June, Texas Governor Rick Perry signed new legislation permitting displays of religious expressions in tax-funded schools. He rationalized the law by saying, "Freedom of religion doesn't mean freedom from religion." And Roy Costner IV, the high school valedictorian who…

In this episode of Reason at Large, Craig Biddle answers the question, "Why do you sometimes use the term 'Islamist' rather than 'Muslim' to refer to Muslims?" In answering, Biddle points out that some Muslims take their religion seriously and thus seek to convert or kill unbelievers, and some Muslims…

Seven-month-old Brandon Schaible died from bacterial pneumonia, severe dehydration, and strep—while his parents watched and prayed and, in accordance with their religious beliefs, refused to provide the child with medicine. Herbert and Catherine Schaible of Philadelphia now await trial, facing third-degree murder charges for Brandon’s death. The atrocity is magnified…

In this episode of Reason at Large, Craig Biddle answers a question from Eric: "Objectivism holds that morality presupposes the choice to live. But why should I choose to live?" In answering, Biddle discusses the nature of the question, the reason the questioner doesn't really need an answer to the…

In this episode of Reason at Large, Craig Biddle answers the question, "You've argued that people should be intolerant of Islam. How does this apply to individual Muslims, not all of whom truly or fully embrace Islam?" In answering, Biddle discusses the need to account for the context of a…

In this episode of Reason at Large, Craig Biddle answers a question from Amy: "You’ve said that people should be intolerant of Islam. How do you square this with the right to freedom of religion?" In answering, Biddle discusses the difference between respecting rights and being tolerant, the fallacy of…

The Catholic Church claims the late John Paul II enacted a miracle. As if that were not remarkable enough, the pope is alleged to have enacted his miracle posthumously! Nick Squires reports for the Telegraph: The Vatican has secretly attributed a mystery miracle to the late John Paul II, clearing…