The objection that “not all women are like that” is always valid, of course, but a bit like defending the Black Death on the grounds that it did not, after all, kill everybody.
“This, then, is the appropriate region of human liberty. It comprises, first, the inward domain of consciousness; demanding liberty of conscience, in the most comprehensive sense; liberty of thought and feeling; absolute freedom of opinion and sentiment on all subjects, practical or speculative, scientific, moral, or theological. The liberty of expressing and publishing opinions may seem to fall under a different principle, since it belongs to that part of the conduct of an individual which concerns other people; but, being almost of as much importance as the liberty of thought itself, and resting in great part on the same reasons, is practically inseparable from it. Secondly, the principle requires liberty of tastes and pursuits; of framing the plan of our life to suit our own character; of doing as we like, subject to such consequences as may follow: without impediment from our fellow-creatures, so long as what we do does not harm them, even though they should think our conduct foolish, perverse, or wrong. Thirdly, from this liberty of each individual, follows the liberty, within the same limits, of combination among individuals; freedom to unite, for any purpose not involving harm to others: the persons combining being supposed to be of full age, and not forced or deceived. No society in which these liberties are not, on the whole, respected, is free, whatever may be its form of government; and none is completely free in which they do not exist absolute and unqualified. The only freedom which deserves the name, is that of pursuing our own good in our own way, so long as we do not attempt to deprive others of theirs, or impede their efforts to obtain it. Each is the proper guardian of his own health, whether bodily, or mental and spiritual. Mankind are greater gainers by suffering each other to live as seems good to themselves, than by compelling each to live as seems good to the rest.”
― On Liberty
― On Liberty
“Only the free and personal man is a good citizen (realist), and even with the lack of particular (scholarly, artistic, etc)culture, a tasteful judge (humanist).”
― False Principle of Our Education
― False Principle of Our Education
“All things are Nothing to Me”
― The Ego and Its Own
― The Ego and Its Own
“Disagreement is not oppression. Argument is not assault. Words – even provocative or repugnant ones – are not violence. The answer to speech we do not like is more speech.”
― The Madness of Crowds: Gender, Race and Identity
― The Madness of Crowds: Gender, Race and Identity
“The only real tyrants that humanity has known have always been the memories of its dead or the illusions it has forged itself.”
― The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind
― The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind
The Egoism Reading Group
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A group for individuals interested in reading Egoist philosophy and literature. You don't need to be an Egoist, but you must have a genuine interest ...more
Anti-State Capitalists
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— last activity Sep 10, 2016 07:40AM
For radical libertarian literature that doesn't give a shit about your Constitution and calls the army a socialist murder machine. This is a place for ...more
Austro-Egoism
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— last activity May 08, 2016 05:34PM
Continental philosophy, economics and law have a great affinity in Western Civilization, and some of us would like to see that affinity extended beyon ...more
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