BrickBlog

Howdy!

After nearly five years of posting my random thoughts on philosophy, religion, science, politics and, of course, college football on Hornfans.com, I have decided to move on. The decision was admittedly in response to a request from the Powers that Be to stop posting (one of several I received over the course of my five years there). Apparently, $60 a year doesn't buy one immunity from rejection on an internet message board. Oh well... it had been apparent for some time that it was time to move on. I guess I just needed a push in the right direction.

In any case, I'm excited at the new opportunity to organize my thoughts into a single, archived collection. What I plan to do is write up a single manifesto on my worldview and post the chapters and sections here as I complete them. I'm sure there won't be much of an audience for my writings - I mean, really, the type of person who wants to spend his or her free time reading some random internet guy's philosophical ramblings is a rare breed. However, I hope to provide some insight into a rationalist perspective on life, morality, religion, the role of government and even the meaning of life. Who knows - maybe someone will find it interesting.

The following is a brief outline of my planned manifesto. It's just a first stab at organizing the topics that interest me, so I expect it to change:

1. Introduction

2. Basis in Natural Philosophy

2.1. Logic

2.2. Determinism

2.3. Evolution

3. Ethics and Morality

3.1. Lack of Free Will

3.2. The Evolution of Morality

3.3. Moral Relativism

4. Religion

4.1. Religious Beliefs and Evolution

4.2. Christianity

4.2.1. Basic Doctrinal Problems

4.2.1.1. Omniscience & Free Will

4.2.1.2. Benevolent, Jealous and Violent God

4.2.2. Origins in Paganism

4.2.2.1. Historical Jesus?

4.2.2.2. Similarities to Pagan Cults

4.2.3. Modern Christianity

5. Government

5.1. Role as National Policy Optimizer

5.1.1. Cost vs. Benefit

5.1.2. Law and Policy as Optimal to the Whole

5.2. Domestic Policy

5.2.1. Rawlsian Liberty

5.2.1.1. Patriotism and Dissent

5.2.1.2. Self-Determination

5.2.2. Free Markets and Regulation

5.2.2.1. When do Free Markets Make Sense?

5.2.2.2. When is Regulation Necessary?

5.3. Foreign Policy

5.3.1. Resource Acquisition: Conquest or Trade?

5.3.2. Humanitarian Concerns

6. Metaphysical Ramblings

6.1. The Meaning of Life (there is none)

6.2. Reincarnation, Sort-of

7. Conclusion

In between posting my sometimes profound (but more often trite and cliche) writings, I will add comments on current events or the occasional topic that interests me. Although I no longer post at Hornfans (I can, but won't), I still occasionally lurk. Every so often, a thread will spark my imagination, and I'll comment on it here.

Oh... I suppose I should post a little biographical info for anyone who might have been linked here but has no clue who I am. I'm a married former engineer currently masquerading as a 2L student at the Harvard Law School. I have two degrees in electrical engineering, and worked for several years in the defense industry designing fancy-schmancy antennas. I'll eventually become a patent attorney, but hope to spend the next two years living the life of a wannabe pseudo philosopher. Hell, I may even don a beret and grow a coffee-house goatee.

Well, I hope that gives you a good idea of what to expect. I hope I don't fizzle out on this blog once the school year begins (in just over a week).

Regards,

BrickHorn