What is virtue signaling? Humans are a social species: we form groups to cooperate. In order to cooperate, we establish values. By following values, we increase our social status within a group. With higher social status, we have access to more resources (e.g., money, influence, female attraction). Virtue signaling is a display of value-following in order to gain social status and resources. On social media, people signal their virtues to win followers and approval. Through … [Read more...]
On Goodness, Happiness, and Meaning in Life
Definitions This blog post rests on utilitarianism: Good = what increases happiness Happiness = pleasure + meaning Assertion Meaning comes from everything that gives people a sense of fulfillment and belonging. For example: Having a deep purpose (doing one's True Will) gives people meaning in life. Being on a path (the dedicated devotion to a mission) gives people meaning in life. Being part of a group (the merging of one's will into a greater will) gives people meaning in … [Read more...]
How to Maximize Happiness in Society
Happiness is pleasure plus meaning. Therefore, a society that wants to maximize happiness must optimize for pleasure in conjunction with meaning. Political liberals typically optimize for pleasure. They try to reduce harm and suffering while promoting liberty and the pleasures that come from acting autonomously. But pure hedonism produces soul-dead consumers, and freedom can be empty. Without a strong, fulfilling purpose, maximizing pleasure does not maximize happiness, but diversion at best … [Read more...]
The Merits of Direct Democracy
The public feeds on mediocrity, but does not love what is mediocre. (Francesco Nitti) Argument for Democracy As a simple matter of justice, the purpose of government should be to make wise political decisions that promote the flourishing of its citizens. A government should thus be devoted to the public interest, not the personal interest of a sovereign class or ruler. Yet a ruling class or king might still be effective at promoting a people's flourishing, so why prefer democracy on … [Read more...]
Are Ethnopluralists Racist?
This blog post was written for people who believe that ethnopluralism is nothing but a racist's rhetorical feint to sound more intellectual, less unethical. In truth, rather than being dog-whistling racists, ethnopluralists are proponents of international self-determination and global ethnical self-defense. Definitions ethnicity = a people's common ancestry, culture, language, society, homeland, and history racism = the normative statement that one ethnicity—typically one's own—is … [Read more...]
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