If you would like to say something about Burgess, feel free to use the comment section here.
Burgess, you will be missed.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
A weblog of perplexing questions and debatable answers at the intersection of history and philosophy -- in an Objectivist context.
Notes for My Next Book
My weblog The Main Event records notes for my future book on the war between reason and mysticism in the USA in our time.
My Most Recent Book
The Power and the Glory: The Key Ideas and Crusading Lives of Eight Debaters of Reason vs. Faith
Posts on Activism
Other Top Posts
Upcoming Study Groups
No study groups are scheduled now.
To become a member of the study group listed above: (1) Become a registered member of SGO; (2) go back to the home page; (3) click the particular study group link; (4) click the Details tab; and (5) click the Participate button.
SGO: Study Groups for Objectivists
SGO provides a platform for serious students of philosophy and history--who are also Objectivists. The brief schedule and short assignments aid individuals who are full-time students or employees. The procedure is to read each weekly assignment, take notes, and then report with a summary, an outline, a discussion of one element, or an elaborated question (explaining why the question is both important and difficult to answer). The benefits--deeper understanding and new perspectives--come from steady, scheduled, and focused study while trading insights and questions with others intrigued by the same text. See the Aug. 29, 2008 post for details.
Etiquette
The post for Nov. 18, 07 describes the strict and unusual etiquette for commenting.
Contributors
Purpose and Scope
PURPOSE. I intend to ask questions and offer tentative answers. I welcome criticism from fellow students of Objectivism, i.e., those individuals who are (1) studying Ayn Rand's philosophy, including her philosophy of history; and (2) agree with every element studied. Criticism here means identifying errors, raising questions, and offering better answers. The learning process is a long spiral. Making progress matters.
SCOPE. My questions arise in philosophy; philosophy of history; history of philosophy; history of ideas; cultural history; intellectual history; socio-intellectual history; the arts of studying and writing history; and the reading and writing of serious fiction having historical or philosophical themes.
Burgess Laughlin, The Aristotle Adventure
SCOPE. My questions arise in philosophy; philosophy of history; history of philosophy; history of ideas; cultural history; intellectual history; socio-intellectual history; the arts of studying and writing history; and the reading and writing of serious fiction having historical or philosophical themes.
Burgess Laughlin, The Aristotle Adventure
Labels
- activism (10)
- advocacy (1)
- Andrew Bernstein (1)
- Aristotle (1)
- art (1)
- audiences (1)
- axioms (1)
- Ayn Rand (3)
- bias (1)
- book reviews (2)
- books (1)
- career (2)
- cause of history (2)
- central purpose in life (7)
- chronology (1)
- conflict (2)
- conservatism (1)
- criticism (1)
- culture (3)
- debate (1)
- democracy (1)
- Dennis Prager (1)
- DIM Hypothesis (1)
- disputes (1)
- dissemination (1)
- economics (1)
- Edwin Locke (1)
- essence (2)
- essentializing (3)
- etiquette (2)
- exaltation (3)
- examples (1)
- fiction (2)
- fundamentals (1)
- Getting Things Done (1)
- glory (1)
- happiness (1)
- history (11)
- humility (1)
- ideology (1)
- implicit (1)
- institution (2)
- insults (1)
- integration (1)
- intellectuals (2)
- investments (1)
- judgment (1)
- knowledge (1)
- law (1)
- Leonard Peikoff (1)
- lying (1)
- metaphysical value judgments (1)
- movement (8)
- mysticism (1)
- neoconservatism (2)
- Objectivism (1)
- Objectivist Roundup (2)
- objectivity (1)
- organization (1)
- philosopher (1)
- philosophy (3)
- power (1)
- predictions (1)
- prejudice (1)
- profane (1)
- proof (3)
- quality control (3)
- rationalization (1)
- reason (1)
- religion (1)
- sacred (1)
- secondary entities (1)
- self-evidency (2)
- shunning (1)
- smear (1)
- story (1)
- study groups for Objectivists (3)
- study methods (1)
- subconscious (1)
- transmission (1)
- unit-economy (1)
- walkthroughs (1)
- watchmen (1)
- Western Civilization (1)
- worldview (2)
- writer's resources (2)
- writing style (1)
History/Philo-sophy: Institutions
History/Philo-sophy: Individuals
Objectivist Weblog Directory
Followers
Copyright © 2010 Burgess Laughlin. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without the permission of Burgess Laughlin -- unless you cite full name and signature: "Burgess Laughlin, www.reasonversusmysticism.com/".
1 comment:
Burgess was my best friend, a guide, a mentor, even though we had never met. Separated by thousands of miles, I took to his blogs, personal correspondance and then the books of Burgess, when my professional life was in crisis. His emphasis on "Central Purpose of Life" as the primary determinant of one's actions, anchored my life when I needed it the most.
If I were to select the most salient feature of his writings, it would be his vision of Heroism among the intellectuals. Ever since he was young, it was Ayn Rand's title essay in her book "For The New Intellectual" that inspired him the most. He found heroic elements not just in rational intellectuals like Aristotle, Ayn Rand, and Locke. But even among Kant, Augustine, Porphyry. It was his dedication and passion for those who had passion and dedication for ideas that enabled him to reinvent his life at an age when most people give up on their dreams. It was this dedication that created "Study Groups for Objectivists" and deeply challenging, engaging, learning, fulfilling studies that followed.
His works have potential to create an army of committed rational intellectuals, who can usher in new era of enlightenment.
I am deeply saddened by his loss. Part of him will remain with us in his blogs, books, and online posts. But it is the loss of a friend which would be impossible to fulfill.
Post a Comment