John C. Wright's Blog, page 216

Infinite Regress

In reference to the Scholastic argument about an uncaused first cause, I have it claimed that infinite regression (while it may offend the laws of physics) does not violate the laws of logic.

Actually, infinite regress does violate the laws of logic, on the grounds that it postulates, first, that every cause in the chain of cause and effect was set in motion by a prior cause, and then, second that no first cause set the chain of cause and effect in motion.

If it is moving when nothing set it in

Answering a Question or Two about the Seldon Plan

"Mr. Wright, my questions were quite real--" I apologize for assuming otherwise, and ask you to forgive me.

"When you disparage people who claim to know the future, and who are True Believers, why does it not occur to you that your own views fall within those characterizations?"

Because I am a Christians as well as logician. The Seldon Plan as outlined in the Book of the Apocalypse, if taken literally, foretells tribulation, war, famine, plague, earthquake, darkness, woe, horror, deception, angui

Obama Nationalized Health Care Plan!

In order to simplify matters and deter unnecessary and wasteful medical procedures, from now on, whenever a patient in the Nationalized Institute for Care Expenditures needs a liver transplant, or other expensive procedure, rather than going to a doctor of his own choosing, he merely makes a large donation to the Democratic National Committee, or to the reelection campaign of the well-connected Democrat pol of his choice, and if he selects a winning pol, one with friends and influence in Washing

And now, for your listening entertainment

A scene from Alexander Nevsky directed by Sergei Eisenstein, music by Sergei Prokofiev. Practically the only thing the nightmarish empire beyond the Iron Curtain ever produced worth remembering with admiration, aside from a manned spaceshot or two. AH! The heart thrills to see the Crusaders, Hosptiller crosses emblazoned on their cloaks, rushing forward toward the boyars of Russia...



... oh, wait. The Krauts are the bad guys in this film. We are supposed to root for the other side.

Well, so what

The Retrograde Reading Skills of a Progressive

In reference to this article, "The Seldon Plan", a reader (I withhold his name out of courtesy) writes in with some snarky questions.

"Mr. Wright, you only reveal your opposition to what you think stupid and sinister people must think."
Oddly enough, I said the exact opposite. My exact words were "First, it hypothesizes the existence of a Leftist who is not stupid or brainwashed. While I have met any number of Leftists who were stupider than they thought they were (of course, they usually think o

NEW SPACE OPERA TWO!

I just today received a courtesy copy of the mass market edition of NEW SPACE OPERA TWO edited by Strahan and Dozois. What I did not know is that they gave my story, 'Far End of History: A Tale of the Eighth Mental Structure' (takes place in my Golden Oecumene background--all for you, Atkins fans) the anchor position.

The anchor position! By ancient custom among anthologists, the biggest draw is usually the first story in the table of contents, to get the reader to pick up the book, and the seco

The Prometheus Award

Well...THE GOLDEN AGE did not win the Prometheus award it was up for...but neither did the other books I was expecting. Instead, LORD OF THE RINGS won the coveted prize.

http://sfscope.com/2009/07/2009-prometheus-award-winners.html

Funny that a tale of mystical Norse-medieval sentiment would win out over an openly pro-Libertarian morality play about individual effort. Gee, I even had a scene where one character lectures another on Ricardo's principle of comparative advantage, and in the appendix

On Writing -- Thinking Inside the Box

Let me recommend this article from Russ Dvonch in his 'Heroic Hollywood' series THINKING INSIDE THE BOX. It proposes no novel theory of writing, merely that craft needs structure. But what makes the article readable and interesting (to me, at least) was the observation of how deeply and completely thematic elements pervade the writing.

In his case, he is talking of screenwriting, but the general point is valid for loftier types of writing, such as world-wrecking space operas about space princess

The Seldon Plan

Genesisplan boldly ventures to answer some of my pointed questions about the Leftist plan for dealing with an implacable Jihadist enemy.  He writes:
Not really being leftist this answer may be invalid, but my guess is that the likely answer would be as follows. My presumption here is of a sane, highly idealistic person who believes several things I consider incorrect, but who does not have to be presumed to be either stupid or brainwashed to do so.

This hypothetical sane and honest Leftist might

Every storm begins with a single drop of rain

Several nations in Europe are cowed by the threats and menace of the paynim, and are even now dhimmi in everything but name; Canada likewise, as the Mark Steyn case indicates. Radio talkshow hosts and Dutch PM's are barred from Great Britain. Statues of pigs and dogs are removed. The Muslims control who may enter the country, and what may be published or discussed in public. There have been small outbreaks of dhimmitude in America, but they are growing larger.

You see, it is as predictable as an