Freedom Philosophy
“Freedom Philosophy,” is somewhat of a misnomer, of course. There is only philosophy, just as there is only physics, or biology, or history—there are not different varieties of philosophy any more than there are different varieties of mathematics. Algebra is algebra and philosophy is philosophy.
There are certainly a multitude of pseudo-philosophies in the world just as there are a multitude of pseudo-sciences. But only those sciences which correctly identify the nature of those aspects of physical reality they are the study of are truly science, and only that philosophy which correctly identifies the nature of reality, of existence and our consciousness of it, is truly philosophy.
Only that philosophy which correctly identifies the nature of the world we are part of and our own nature as human beings is true philosophy; only true philosophy provides the principles necessary to make the choices that result in free independent, successful, happy lives in this world.
Every individualist in history has had the same essential philosophy, whether explicitly or implicitly. The essence of that philosophy has always been that the world is real and has a specific nature independent of anyone’s knowledge or consciousness of it and that man’s conscious mind—his volition, reason, and intellect—enable him to identify the nature of all reality, including his own nature and its requirements.
It is man’s nature, and the nature of the world he lives in that those principles called ethics are based on, and it is those principles which determine right and wrong choices in thought and action. Ethics is a branch of philosophy; the branch of philosophy that identifies the nature of the world is metaphysics; the branch of philosophy that identifies the nature of man’s mind, which distinguishes man from all other living creatures, is _epistemology_—the study of knowledge.
The section, “Freedom Ethics,” [pending] discusses the philosophical basis for asserting the living as an independent individualist is the highest moral or ethical value.
Most other philosophical issues have been addressed in the Independent Individualist “Autonomist Philosophy Series.” That series is not quite complete, but covers most questions of philosophy. A complete philosophy is currently being written and will be published as a separate book.
“Basic Principles of Ontology“
“Atlas Shrugged: A Model for Individualist Revolution,” including links to six other articles in this series on individualism, including: “Ayn Rand—Autonomist,” “Individualism—Not Objectivism,” “Saving The World,” “What Is an Individualist,” “Hated—The Individualist In a Collectivist World,” “Love and Hate at First Sight.”
What Philosophy Is Not
The purpose of philosophy is to identify the principles by which reality—all of reality—can be understood. The purpose of that understanding is to provide the basis for making sound choices in every aspect of one’s life. Philosophy has no other purpose.
Philosophy, like all other knowledge, is an entirely personal individual matter. Minds are distributed one to an individual and every individual has to make his own choices and decisions based on his own knowledge and best reason —no one else can “know” for you, “think” for you or “choose” for you. Even if you choose to accept some authority for the basis of your beliefs and choices, you must choose that authority and you must choose to obey or not obey it. Obedience does no exempt anyone from the necessity of choosing, it only divorces one’s choices from the only basis for correct choices, one’s own reason.
The purpose of philosophy is not to win debates, not to convince others, and not to promote an ideology. It does not matter what anyone else’s philosophy is. If others choose to live irrationally, it is their life, and if their irrationality is not a threat to anyone else, that is, so long as they do not attempt to use force, or threats of force, in their dealings with others, what they believe and do is irrelevant.
As independent individualists we can deal with others only by means of reason, and no matter what irrationalities others may hold, so long as their dealings with us are rational and objective, to that extent we can have a relationship with them, whether that relationship is a business one, or a social one.
If in dealing with another, we reach a place where the other attempts to deal with us irrationally, we do not, in fact must not deal with them at all. There is no moral way to deal with irrationality except to defend oneself against it, either by avoiding it or having nothing to do with it, or if it involves force, using force to defend ourselves against it.
The purpose of philosophy is to give us an understanding of what the world is, not to evade it, but to embrace it and make it our own. It is not our business in the world to save others or to make them understand what we understand. It is, in fact, presumptuous and intrusive to do so. Use your philosophy to live right, which necessarily includes allowing others to live their lives as they choose.