Foreword

This Foreword pertains only to the online version of this critique of Dr. Harry Binswanger’s How We Know: Epistemology on an Objectivist Foundation. [Please see the Introduction.]

I have chosen to make this book available online because I wish to find out if anyone is interested in philosophy, or more precisely, the truth. This book may be considered a predecessor to my complete philosophy which will be entitled, Philosophy If You Want It, which will not be published online, and if no interest is shown in the current book, will most likely not be published at all.

Perhaps the greatest mistake made in philosophy, which is almost universal, is the assumption that philosophy has some kind of utilitarian or social purpose. Philosophical truth, like all truth, only matters to individuals who must know the truth in order to live successfully and happily in this world, and those who know the truth and live by it are successful and happy. It makes no difference whatsoever, how many people know the truth, or even if anyone else knows the truth. If you know it, you know it, even if you are the only one in the whole world who does.

If you do know the truth and choose to live by it, you will not be understood by those who have chosen not to learn the truth, or even to live according to as much as they do know. If you know the truth, you know you never have to explain yourself to anyone else. If you know the truth, you know other’s mistaken views and mistaken choices are not your concern, and not your business.

So I have made some of the truth available to those who choose to learn it, but have no intention of convincing anyone to seek it.