“Never confuse an ought for an is, nor an is for an ought.“
My attorney has long kept a slip of paper under the thick-tempered glass of his desktop that has written on it the sage advice, “Never confuse an ought for an is, nor an is for an ought.” This stems from Hume’s famous philosophical statement, “you cannot deduce an ought from an is.”
Hume’s idea seems to be that you cannot deduce moral conclusions, featuring moral words such as ‘ought’, from non-moral premises, that is premises from which the moral words are absent. The passage is summed up in the slogan ‘No-Ought-From-Is’ (or NOFI for short) and for many people it represents the take-home message of Hume’s moral philosophy. It is sometimes rather grandly referred to as Hume’s Law.
No confusing an ought for an is, and vice versa, is much, much, more useful advice for us average Joe’s, in my experience, than Hume’s no deducing an ought from an is. I have noticed that the confusion of another person’s is statement (objective/hypothesis or fact) for an ought statement (subjective/opinion or propaganda) is at the root of many arguments, both here in the comments on ZeroHedge, as well as out in polite society and even my marriage.
It is my sincere desire to provide readers of this site with the best unbiased information available, and a forum where it can be discussed openly, as our Founders intended. But it is not easy nor inexpensive to do so, especially when those who wish to prevent us from making the truth known, attack us without mercy on all fronts on a daily basis. So each time you visit the site, I would ask that you consider the value that you receive and have received from The Burning Platform and the community of which you are a vital part. I can't do it all alone, and I need your help and support to keep it alive. Please consider contributing an amount commensurate to the value that you receive from this site and community, or even by becoming a sustaining supporter through periodic contributions. [Burning Platform LLC - PO Box 1520 Kulpsville, PA 19443] or Paypal
-----------------------------------------------------
To donate via Stripe, click here.
-----------------------------------------------------
Use promo code ILMF2, and save up to 66% on all MyPillow purchases. (The Burning Platform benefits when you use this promo code.)
Take, for example, the case of James D. Watson, a Nobel Prize recipient for Physiology or Medicine in 1962, co-discoverer of the structure of DNA, and author of the fantastic book, The Double Helix.
In October 2007, Watson told the Sunday Times in an interview that he was “gloomy about the prospect of Africa” because “all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours, whereas all the testing says not really.”
Since then, Watson has not been invited to give public lectures.“Because I was an ‘unperson’ I was fired from the boards of companies, so I have no income, apart from my academic income,” he explained before auctioning off his Nobel Prize.
My take is that Watson, a scientist, made altruistic is statements, observations really, that were portrayed by the non-scientific media and interpreted by many as ought statements, or opinions, and so he was branded a racist, and black balled. This begs the following question, which is frequently asked on some freer forums, such as Zerohedge. Are facts racist? It seems to be dependent upon one’s definition of racism.
According to the ADL:
Racism is the belief that a particular race is superior or inferior to another, that a person’s social and moral traits are predetermined by his or her inborn biological characteristics.
What if it is not merely a belief, but a fact, that a particular race is superior or inferior to another, at least in regards to an objectively-measurable characteristic such as intelligence, or time to run a set distance?
Does the objective statement, “On average, Japanese score much higher on intelligence tests than Sub-Saharan Africans,” make the speaker a racist?
Does the objective statement, “In general, blacks are far superior to Asians in a foot race,” make the speaker a racist?
If it does, and these facts are indeed true, then is not anyone and everyone either a racist, or a denier of reality?
Do Watson’s objective statements, “gloomy about the prospect of Africa,” because, “all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours, whereas all the testing says not really,” make him a racist?
I would argue that the answer in all cases is, “No,” the speaker is not racist, because these are is statements, not ought statements. The objectively provable truth of these statements indicates to me, at least, that the ADL’s definition of a racist is either true for all instances of rational thinkers, thus we would all be racist, or nonsensical, and useless as a definition in either case.
In the beginning of Orwell’s novel, 1984, the main character Winston writes that, “Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four.” At the end of the novel, after being tortured, he sits at the cafe and writes, “2 + 2 = 5,” in the dust on his table.
When the forces of tyranny use such power, as it has with Watson (and Winston) in order to convince us that an is is really an ought (or 2+2=5), then it is no wonder that we are so often prone to confuse an ought for an is.
Back in high school, the 80’s, I studied journalism and wrote for the school newspaper. In those days, I recall that the news stories were supposed to be objective (is statements) and kept separate from subjective opinion (ought statements), that were to only be found on the editorial page. However, it didn’t take me long reading The New York Times to learn that this was simply not reality.
When I listened to NPR or so-called conservative talk radio, or watched television news, I noticed that the lines between news and opinion were at best very gray and blurry. When one reporter would interview another reporter for their opinions as a subject matter expert for a news story, I would wonder if they were evil propagandists, or just lazy journalists? After knowing many journalists, and reading Edward Bernays’ book, Propaganda, my answer is probably a little bit of both.
Today, with social media and the internet, there simply are no lines separating news and opinion. Just look at ZeroHedge: no editorial section; no news section; no features section. It is entirely up to the individual to sort out the two.
Have you noticed that much of what is labeled as fake news, is actually opinion, and vice versa? This is important to recognize, as governments and statists push to eliminate fake news, they are really trying to eliminate opinion. I am looking at you, Mr. Zuckerburg and Mr. Brin. When the government gets to decide for the individual what is fact, and what is not, then liberty is lost.
I believe that this is a big part of why the First Amendment was placed at the top of the Bill of Rights.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Having read Bastiat, I understand that the Bill of Rights does not grant me my natural rights, but is clearly and only intended to protect these natural rights, especially if and when the government of the United State’s of America is inclined to tyranny. Don’t agree? Educate yourself.
hedgeless_horseman’s Revolutionary Call to Arms:
11. Read, The Law, by Frédéric Bastiat.
12. Make a list of your natural rights.
13. Read, The Constitution of the United States and The Bill of Rights.https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-01-06/hedgelesshorsemans-revolution…
So, much like the right to defend our liberty, as protected under the Second Amendment, we must also exercise our right to freedom of speech and peaceable assembly, as protected under the First Amendment.
To that end, I invite each of you to come to the Second ZeroHedge Symposium and Live Fight Club in Marfa, Texas, this June 1-3.
This year it is going to be a slightly different format. Once again, we have some amazing speakers, but we are also going to have more opportunity for all attendees to participate. If you have something to say, then you will have the chance to step up on the Paper Street Soap Box and say it. This is, after all, nothing more than a peaceful assembly of the people, and a great opportunity to practice differentiating between fact and opinion, which is one thing that Fight Club is really good at.
Feel free to email me if you want to discuss further: hedgeless @ protonmail .ch
As a reminder, there is no registration, no badges, and no charge to attend. If you want to remain anonymous, then you certainly may do so. Please, do not DOX attendees. We appreciate the Financial Times reporter abiding by this request, last year, and hope everybody follows suit.
Thanks to those of you that have already donated, and a request to those that have not to please do so now, so that we can pay for the meeting hall, the fantastic live music, and if anything is left over some really good mescal to go with the music on Saturday night. Weldon Henson is coming to play!
- https://www.gofundme.com/the-2nd-zh-symposium-in-marfa
- LTC account: MGVkR2GVTtNCUgyN4n1Q2B4Y1yJdMdL1is
- BTC account: 3EbTJndVgViVi3jTdb3zJVxpuDBvYv5XeM
Once again, if you are not planning to camp out in the high desert, drive an RV, or sleep in the gutter or jail, then reserve a luxury suite, historic hotel room, teepee, yurt, trailer, or tent (and wood-fueled hot tub) at one of the few fine sleeping establishments within stumbling distance of the many fine bars in town. You better hurry! The most interesting and best accommodations all sold out last year.
- elcosmico.com
- marfasaintgeorge.com
- hotelpaisano.com
- thunderbirdmarfa.com
- riatainnmarfa.com
- airbnb.com
- https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-05-12/there-are-many-fine-benefits-…
We are going to officially kick off the Symposium at 12 noon on Friday, June 1st, again at the Marfa Activities Center, 105 North Mesa, Marfa, Texas, 79843. Although a few of us might be out at the Marfa Lights Viewing Center, Thursday night, after having spent the day touring The Chinati Foundation.
Here are a few other posts regarding this year’s symposium:
- https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-10-17/theme-second-zerohedge-sympos…
- https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-02-28/practice-honesty-when-it-matt…
- https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-03-16/how-negotiate-directly-physic…
- https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-03-27/mother-should-i-start-fight-c…
We look forward to seeing y’all in a few weeks!
Peace, prosperity, love, and liberty,
h_h
When whites become a minority, this country is finished. All one has to do is look at Zimbabwe, South Africa, and other black-run “basket cases”. This is our future…
That being said…
The term “racism” was invented by communists, and is used to destroy cultures and defuse (and render impotent) those with differing points-of-view on “racial” issues.
True “racism” is desirable as it merely cements cultural and social bonds that are necessary for a society to function and flourish.
True “racism” merely denotes commonality of purpose and advancement within each respective racial group.
Blacks have the NAACP and Congressional Black Caucus, Hispanics have La Raza and Mecha, Jews have the $PLC, ACLU and ADL. These are all “racist” organizations that serve to promote the interests (and political power) of their respective races.
It is only whites who are castigated and threatened for attempting to show any signs of racial solidarity.
Let’s look at what us “evil, privileged” whites have done for Western society and the world:
1. “Civil-rights (for some)” laws (that effectively destroy “freedom of association” for whites, but not for other races) and do not apply to whites–only “people of color” are covered by these so-called “civil-rights (for some)” protections.
2. “Affirmative action” policies (that push better qualified whites out of positions and jobs that they would ordinarily qualify for) in favor of lesser-qualified minorities. In fact, “affirmative action” policies actually damage those minorities who are quite capable of “making it on their own” because they get “lumped in” with the groups that cannot make it on their own without “help”,
3. “Contract set-asides” (that are specifically targeted for minorities (that white people are prohibited from bidding on) and immigration policies (that specifically exclude whites, most of who have skills that would benefit the USA) in favor of those from the third-world (with no marketable skills).
4. Scholarships that specify particular ethnic groups are looked upon favorably by most people, save one–scholarships that are intended for whites only are looked upon as being “racist”, and therefore impermissible and improper in today’s racially-charged climate of “political correctness”.
NO OTHER RACE (BUT WHITES) HAS (EVER) BENT OVER BACKWARDS to assure that all non-white races receive a “fair shake” in being a part of American life, even to the detriment and social well-being of “our own kind” (whites).
Whites possess an externalized altruism that no other races possesses. This externalized altruism that “looks out for the other guy” will be the demise of the white race. This altruism needs to be internalized and focused inward, just as other races have done. There is NO SHAME in looking out for one’s own kind.
“Multiculturalism” and “diversity” are code-words for white genocide.
I blame those of the “greatest generation” for selling out our birthright with the passage of the “Civil-Rights Acts” of 1957 and 1964, and the “Hart-Cellar immigration act of 1965”. To those of the “greatest generation” (who are still alive) thanks for NOTHING…
Let’s not forget that “freedom of association” (but only affecting the white majority) was eviscerated by the enacting of these clearly unconstitutional acts.
As whites comprise only 6% of the world population, it is us whites who should be the most protected and cherished of minorities…
“The Oxford English Dictionary’s first recorded utterance of the word racism was by a man named Richard Henry Pratt in 1902. ”
https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2014/01/05/260006815/the-ugly-fascinating-history-of-the-word-racism
The Southern and Western Whites and Asians (esp the Greatest Generation and Boomers) are not to blame for the stupidity and treason of liberals that have forced communism on all of America. We stand with all Freedom Loving Americans who are ready for the Counter Revolution. Death to Communism.
Idiotic. The Civil War was therefore fought over? (1860)
And the earlier notion that overwhelmingly black slaves were considered 3/5 of a “real” person? (1787)
Just because a term is new doesn’t mean the underlying phenomenon is.
The author of this tome is unknown. However, it deserves dissemination…
For almost 150 years the United States has been conducting an interesting experiment. The subjects of the experiment: black people and working-class whites.
The hypothesis to be tested: Can a people taken from the jungles of Africa and forced into slavery be fully integrated as citizens in a majority white population?
The whites were descendants of Europeans who had created a majestic civilization. The former slaves had been tribal peoples with no written language and virtually no intellectual achievements. Acting on a policy that was not fair to either group, the government released newly freed black people into a white society that saw them as inferiors. America has struggled with racial discord ever since.
Decade after decade the problems persisted but the experimenters never gave up. They insisted that if they could find the right formula the experiment would work, and concocted program after program to get the result they wanted. They created the Freedman’s Bureau, passed civil rights laws, tried to build the Great Society, declared War on Poverty, ordered race preferences, built housing projects, and tried midnight basketball.
Their new laws intruded into people’s lives in ways that would have been otherwise unthinkable. They called in National Guard troops to enforce school integration. They outlawed freedom of association. Over the protests of parents, they put white children on buses and sent them to black schools and vice versa. They tried with money, special programs, relaxed standards, and endless handwringing to close the “achievement gap.” To keep white backlash in check they began punishing public and even private statements on race. They hung up Orwellian public banners that commanded whites to “Celebrate Diversity!” and “Say No to Racism.” Nothing was off limits if it might salvage the experiment.
Some thought that what W.E.B. Du Bois called the Talented Tenth would lead the way for black people. A group of elite, educated blacks would knock down doors of opportunity and show the world what blacks were capable of. There is a Talented Tenth. They are the black Americans who have become entrepreneurs, lawyers, doctors and scientists. But ten percent is not enough. For the experiment to work, the ten percent has to be followed by a critical mass of people who can hold middle-class jobs and promote social stability. That is what is missing.
Through the years, too many black people continue to show an inability to function and prosper in a culture unsuited to them. Detroit is bankrupt, the south side of Chicago is a war zone, and the vast majority of black cities all over America are beset by degeneracy and violence. And blacks never take responsibility for their failures. Instead, they lash out in anger and resentment.
Across the generations and across the country, as we have seen in Detroit, Watts, Newark, Los Angeles, Cincinnati, and now Ferguson, rioting and looting are just one racial incident away. The white elite would tell us that this doesn’t mean the experiment has failed. We just have to try harder. We need more money, more time, more understanding, more programs, and more opportunities.
But nothing changes no matter how much money is spent, no matter how many laws are passed, no matter how many black geniuses are portrayed on TV, and no matter who is president. Some argue it’s a problem of “culture,” as if culture creates people’s behavior instead of the other way around. Others blame “white privilege.”
But since 1965, when the elites opened America’s doors to the Third World, immigrants from Asia and India–people who are not white, not rich, and not “connected”–have quietly succeeded. While the children of these people are winning spelling bees and getting top scores on the SAT, black “youths” are committing half the country’s violent crime–crime, which includes viciously punching random white people on the street for the thrill of it that has nothing to do with poverty.
The experiment has failed. Not because of culture, or white privilege, or racism. The fundamental problem is that white people and black people are different. They differ intellectually and temperamentally. These differences result in permanent social incompatibility.
Our rulers don’t seem to understand just how tired their white subjects are with this experiment. They don’t understand that white people aren’t out to get black people; they are just exhausted with them. They are exhausted by the social pathologies, the violence, the endless complaints, and the blind racial solidarity, the bottomless pit of grievances, the excuses, and the reflexive animosity.
The elites explain everything with “racism,” and refuse to believe that white frustration could soon reach the boiling point.,.,
+100
+1,000
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why I come here. You can never tell the depths of someones knowledge until you spend time seeing how they think. HH is writing an ad for what is very likely to be an incredible experience but just as HSF wrote a thank you note that brought some to tears with it’s beauty, HH drags us kicking and screaming into the world of deep philosophy. Most of us start to trip as we read the article on Hume, but we get exposed to his thoughts through the years of Bernays inspired political fog. Which of us could bring these ideas to the assembled masses?
I am humbled HH and wish I could attend.
I think Robert Gore presented at last year’s event.
Admin.
I did present at last year’s event. I proposed an alternative media news agency. I believe you reposted my presentation, and I posted it on my site. It got a good reception, however, such an agency requires money and manpower beyond my limited means. I enjoyed the conference, although I probably won’t go this year. I’m up to my eyeballs in a business venture and my writing-related activities have had to take a back seat. I would urge any TBPers who are interested and can take the time to attend. Marfa is a funky little town, you’ll meet some really interesting people, and the conference will be lively and fun.
I was there too. I met a number of interesting people, learned a lot, and had an all-around great time. I’ll be there again this year. Maybe I’ll see the Marfa Lights this time.
Can we boil that thought down into a meme?
“Racism is a communist construct. Communists call others racists to control them”.
Or can someone else do it better?
Student: “Mr. Counselor, I have failed every single course I’ve taken here at Whatsamatta U. I’m such a royal fuckup, I just don’t know what to do.”
Counselor: “There may be one thing left to do. Are you good at lying and bullshitting?”
Student: “Absolutely!”
Counselor: “Then change your major to journalism.”
good one stucky but i thought it was gonna be political science–
Isn’t Marfa associated with some kind of weird UFO stuff or something?
Not UFOs. Unexplained lights can be seen in motion from an observation point on US 90 east of Marfa. They’ve been evident since the 1880s. Nobody has a clue for how/why they exist.
They’re commonly best seen for a couple of hours beginning maybe one or two hours after full darkness.
There are a few stories of interactions with people. Interestingly, they’ve all been benign.
For those with time and inclination, drive from Marfa to Presidio and then down the River Road (FM 170) to Terlingua. (Lajitas is an expensive tourist trap, known locally as “Lahideous”.)
Shmoozing on the Terlingua Ghost Town porch is fun (bring your guitar) and the food is excellent in the StarLight Cabaret. A drink or two at La Kiva is also worthwhile, with a look at the Penisaurus Erectus.
Now that’s downright interesting. Maybe I’ll make it down that way someday.
I wouldnt say zerohedge is freer. I got banned for simply stating that an article was unfoundedly bearish.
This is one of the last comments I made there:
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-04-12/watch-live-mike-pompeo-faces-grilling-dems-during-confirmation-hearing
Maybe I got banned for being first? lol
This thread contains my last comment before being banned:
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-04-13/jpmorgan-reports-record-q1-equity-market-revenue-volatility-soared
https://visitmarfa.com/
Big Bend national park just to the south. Stunningly beautiful area.