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Sunday, January 29, 2012 - 6:49pmSanction this postReply
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Thanks for posting this review, Mike.

I'm in the process of moving to Texas right now. I guess you could say that I'm looking for freedom.

:-) 

Anyway, after I get there, I will see if I can't track this book down.

Ed



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Monday, January 30, 2012 - 7:41amSanction this postReply
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a classic book, well worth looking into and thinking about [whether one agrees with all of the 'boxes' ]...

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Monday, January 30, 2012 - 4:48pmSanction this postReply
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I read it about 20 years ago and it still resonates well with me today.

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Thursday, February 2, 2012 - 11:13pmSanction this postReply
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the Morality Trap - Browne differentiates personal morality from universal morality and absolute morality. "A realistic morality has to consider many personal factors: your emotional nature, abilities, strengths, weaknesses, and most important, your goals. ... A personal morality is the attempt to consider all the relevant consequences of your actions." A universal morality is supposed to bring happiness to anyone and everyone who adopts it. "The easiest time to fall into the trap is when you're exposed to someone whose ideas do make a lot of sense. If what he says is logical to you - more logical than what you've heard before - the temptation can be very great to adopt all his ways." An absolute morality is to be followed whether or not it brings happiness.

the RightsTrap - the belief that your rights will make you free. "Rights are only invoked when there's a conflict of interest. Otherwise, there's no need for them. ... But that's only one of three methods of handling such situations. You can:
1. Rely upon your rights to get what you want.
2. Find a way to make it in the other person's self-interest to provide what you want.
3. Find a way to get what you want without his being involved."

the Utopia Trap - "the belief that you must create better conditions in society before you can be free. ... It's easy to see that other people are arranging things incorrectly - passing the wrong laws, misinterpreting things, even maliciously arranging things to the detriment of others. ... It is easy to feel that society needs an overhaul. ... If you think you know the truth about a given situation, it's very easy to assume that all you have to do is point it out to another person. So naturally you're amazed when he doesn't quickly agree with you and do what you want. But here we are back at the Identity Trap again." ... "So one can be induced to write letters, try to educate others, help get the right man elected, throw the tyrants out, and engage in numerous other activities. ... The only clear path to freedom is through direct alternatives-- decisions that don't require you to influence others."


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Thursday, February 2, 2012 - 11:28pmSanction this postReply
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Yup there is much to be said for hiding in plain sight.

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