Open Minds

Greed is good? Yes, unless it is mixed with something bad.

I will see you next Sunday with another video!

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Some of my “left” friends call me a “rightist” and some of my “right” friends call me a leftist. 🙂 Frequently, people will hear me use a word to describe my beliefs, and then make up what they think I must believe in based on their misunderstanding of the word, or based on their definition of the word. It is probably fair for me to make some statements about my subjective beliefs and what I am willing and able to intellectually defend.

1. Truth is important.

2. I believe that human interactions should be voluntary.

3. I believe that a person who has peacefully acquired property has all rights to it.

4. I believe that human beings may exchange property and other things of value.

5. I think that humans are born free, without debt to anyone and not the property of anyone.

6. I judge many things, and apply subjective values to those things.

7. I am only willing to have high-level conversations with capable people who adhere to logic and reason and who are intellectually consistent. Kind of like this: https://disenthrall.me/community-rules/meat-and-potatoes/

8. Words have meanings, and conversation partners ought to make sure the other person means the same thing.

9. I stick to my word, and expect others to do the same.

10. I think all involuntary interactions, including government, are bad and unnecessary.

11. I believe that there are people who manipulate others, often at a grand scale, for their own benefit.

12. I believe that the corporate media is complicit in number eleven.

13. My time is very valuable. I ask that you respect it by scheduling time with me, honoring your commitments and being timely. I will do the same with you.

14. Some labels that are most frequently used to describe my thoughts include Stoicism & Voluntaryism, though of course not everything that every Stoic or Voluntaryist believes exactly matches my thoughts.

15. I believe that if I take care of the means, the end will take care of itself.

16. I have been convinced that morality is subjective.

The above higher-level ideas guide my worldview and help me evaluate circumstances and actions. When I find a situation that I apply the above to, and it “doesn’t work, I reexamine my beliefs and update them. This is the scientific method of thinking. You can now figure out what I am going to think about a specific issue. If you are not able to do so to a high degree of accuracy, either I need to add a better description above, or you need to think better.

I value some things higher than others. Have you examined YOUR values? It is very likely that your “Top 10” list and mine will be different. It is difficult for us to discuss things when we have different preferred outcomes. If “getting along with the ruling class” is a high and good value to you, and if “standing up for freedom” is a high and good value to me, we are likely to disagree about issues.

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Books mentioned:

Most Dangerous Superstition: https://amzn.to/3GAeSPn

For a New Liberty: https://amzn.to/3t0UT79

Anarchy Exposed: https://amzn.to/3wWPwqK

Everyday Anarchy: https://amzn.to/3x1s0ZP

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What I might conspire to do if I was an evil emperor!

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Let's be patient when others are not at our level.

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Shepard discusses a common type of propaganda, I bet you can find examples of it within a few minutes of looking at stories on your news feed.

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Candles in the Dark link: https://attendcandles.com/

Please subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@shepardthinks :)

Learn about Voluntaryism at http://openlyvoluntary.com/

-No really my friend, what is YOUR reason-based, rational, intelligent purpose for praying?

There is a difference between knowledge and belief. Knowledge is a subset of belief:

Belief: Acceptance that a proposition is likely true.

Knowledge: A belief backed by strong reason and evidence (truth)-- to the level of almost asserting that one cannot be wrong.

Belief- Theist / Anti-Theist / Atheist:

-Theist: "There's probably a god."

-Anti-Theist: "There's probably not a god."

-Atheist: "I lack a belief on the topic."

Knowledge- Gnostic / Agnostic:

-Gnostic: "I know that god definitely exists / does not exist."

-Agnostic: "I don't know."

Valid combinations:

-Gnostic Theist: "God definitely exists."

-Agnostic Theist: "God probably exists but I cant be certain."

-Gnostic Anti-theist: "God definitely does not exist."

-Agnostic Anti-theist: "I'm pretty sure god doesn't exist but I cant be certain."

-Atheist: "I hold no position on the topic."

Invalid combinations:

-Gnostic Atheist: "-null- definitely -null-."

-Agnostic Atheist: "I'm not certain about -null-."

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It isn't the Voluntaryists who are utopian dreamers!

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No really, WHY? Why buy local?

I have some reasons why, but I also have some reasons why not.

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Learn about Voluntaryism at http://openlyvoluntary.com/