The Objective Standard Blog » The Arts

The Grey: A Great Reminder of Crucial Truths

Paul Hsieh — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:26:57 +0000

Could you survive deep in the Alaskan wilderness and make your way out with only the resources from a crashed airplane?

That’s the stark challenge faced by the seven protagonists of the movie The Grey, starring Liam Neeson. An airplane carrying Alaskan oil field workers crashes during a storm, and they must battle harsh winter conditions and a pack of aggressive wolves while attempting to find their way back to civilization. In addition to spectacular cinematography and spellbinding action scenes, the movie demonstrates surprising philosophical depth in delivering its theme: “What does it really mean to fight for one’s life?”

The movie also dramatizes three related principles that are easy to forget during everyday life but that are made vividly clear in the context of the movie:

1) Man’s basic means of survival is his reasoning mind.

The wolves in The Grey survive using their claws, fangs, and instincts in accordance with their basic nature. Humans, however, cannot survive in this fashion. We lack the fur to keep us warm in subzero temperatures, claws and fangs to kill prey (or to protect ourselves against predators), and instincts to dictate our actions. To survive, we must use our minds, rearrange nature, and create the goods we need. Reason is our basic means of doing so.

2) Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed.

Do you need to start a fire? Then you must identify the nature of the material at hand and proceed accordingly. Do you need to cross a violently rushing river? Then you must devise a method that holds the weight of a full-grown man; you must respect and apply the laws of physics. Wishful thinking, bluster, or drunkenness won’t make reality bend to your desires or make your problems go away. The only way to solve your problems or accomplish your goals is to face reality head-on, heed the facts, and act accordingly.

3) Modern man is extremely dependent on the benefits of technology.

Technology is an incredible enhancement to our lives. I would rather be typing a movie review on my MacBook Air in the comfort of my living room than shivering in a dark cave wondering whether I’ll be eaten by wolves tonight.

But it’s easy to take for granted the benefits of industrial civilization until we are reminded (in fiction or in real life) what life is like without those benefits. In Ayn Rand’s novel Atlas Shrugged, Hank Rearden hosts a fancy party during a storm. During the party, Francisco D’Anconia tells him:

“[Y]ou are able to have summer flowers and half-naked women in your house on a night like this, in demonstration of your victory over that storm. And if it weren’t for you, most of those who are here would be left helpless at the mercy of that wind in the middle of some such plain.”

The Grey reminded me how grateful I am for the many entrepreneurs, engineers, and businessmen who have created our modern industrial civilization. Without them, we wouldn’t enjoy the iPads, cell phones, automobiles, central heating, and electricity we so easily take for granted. Instead, we’d be like the protagonists of The Grey, struggling mightily against raw, untamed nature, hoping to survive another day.

For this reason, although The Grey is not a political movie, it also helped me better appreciate Ari Armstrong’s recent blog post, “Great Producers Deserve Our Gratitude, Not Obama’s Tax Hikes.”

In the hubbub of everyday life, it’s easy to forget some basic truths about man, nature, and the fundamental role of reason in our lives. A gripping tale of novel and dire circumstances, The Grey reminds us of what we must never forget if we want to live.

Never Count a Good Author Out

Daniel Wahl — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 15:17:35 +0000

Andrew Bernstein began his 2008 article “The Exalted Heroism of Alistair MacLean’s Novels” as follows:

Less than fifty years ago, Alistair MacLean’s novels were international best-sellers that spawned major motion pictures. Today, his novels are out-of-print in America and MacLean, once considered a “master storyteller,” is virtually unknown to an entire generation of readers. This is tragic, for MacLean was one of the few authors of the last one-hundred years who both displayed a genuine comprehension of man’s potential for heroism and possessed the ability to convincingly portray this potential in literary form.

Bernstein went on to survey MacLean’s books, indicating their value to those who love novels “with relentlessly goal-directed characters” and, by the end, had indeed conveyed the tragedy of the books being out of print.

But never count a good author out. In June of this year, Sterling Publishers reprinted five of MacLean’s novels, including two—The Guns of Navarone and H.M.S. Ulysses—that Bernstein discussed extensively in his article. And in 2012, Sterling plans to publish eight more.

The literary tides, it seems, are changing. And if reviews of the republished works are any indication, MacLean may prove to be, as Bernstein hoped in closing, “not the last of [the] great writers of heroic adventure fiction—but the first of their return.”

Related:

Image: Wikipedia Commons

Don’t Say Grace, Say Justice

Craig Biddle — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 13:57:14 +0000

The religious tradition of saying grace before meals becomes especially popular around the holidays, when we all are reminded of how fortunate we are to have an abundance of life-sustaining goods and services at our disposal. But there is a grave injustice involved in this tradition. It is the injustice of thanking an alleged God for the productive accomplishments of actual men.

Where do the ideas, principles, constitutions, governments, and laws that protect our rights to life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness come from? What is the source of the meals, medicines, homes, automobiles, and fighter jets that keep us alive and enable us to flourish? Who is responsible for our freedom, prosperity, and well-being?

Is freedom a gift from God? It is not. Freedom, the absence of physical coercion, is a political condition resulting from the rational, principled thought and action of men—men such as Aristotle, John Locke, the Founding Fathers, Frederick Douglass, and American soldiers.

Did God make the ambrosia that melts in your mouth, or the asthma medicine that keeps your child alive, or the plush recliner in which you relax, or the plasma TV on which you watch your favorite show? Did God create the jetliners that bring friends and family from afar, or the stealth bombers that keep the barbarians at bay, or the music that warms your heart and fuels your soul?

Since God is responsible for none of the goods on which human life and happiness depend, why thank him for any such goods? More to the point: Why not thank those who actually are responsible for them? What would a just man do?

Justice is the virtue of judging people rationally—according to what they say, do, and produce—and treating them accordingly, granting to each man that which he deserves. If someone spends the day preparing a wonderful meal, justice demands that he, not God, be thanked for doing so. If someone provides his family with a warm, safe, comfortable home, justice demands that he, not God, be thanked for providing it. If a policeman or fireman or doctor saves someone’s life, justice demands that he, not God, be thanked. If a loving spouse or child or parent or friend provides you with great joy, justice demands that he, not God, be acknowledged accordingly. If a philosopher discovers the principles on which freedom depends—and if others put those principles into practice—justice demands that they, not God, be given credit.

To say grace is to give credit where none is due—and, worse, it is to withhold credit where it is due. To say grace is to commit an act of injustice.

Rational, productive people—whether philosophers, scientists, inventors, artists, businessmen, military strategists, friends, family, or yourself—are who deserve to be thanked for the goods on which your life, liberty, and happiness depend. This holiday season—and from now on—don’t say grace; say justice. Thank or acknowledge the people who actually provide the goods. Some of them may be sitting right there at the table with you. And if you find yourself at a table where people insist on saying grace, politely insist on saying justice when they’re through. It’s the right thing to do.

Related:

Who Deserves Credit for Tebow’s 316 Yards?

The Fall Issue of TOS

TOS Admin — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 22:52:27 +0000

The print edition of the Fall issue is at press and will be mailed shortly; the online, e-book, and audio versions will be accessible to subscribers beginning September 20, 25, and 30 respectively. We’ve made John David Lewis’s article “9/11 Ten Years Later: The Fruits of the Philosophy of Self-Abnegation” available early and for free.

The contents of the Fall issue are:

ARTICLES

9/11 Ten Years Later: The Fruits of the Philosophy of Self-Abnegation
by John David Lewis

Ayn Rand’s Theory of Rights: The Moral Foundation of a Free Society
by Craig Biddle

A Critique of Representative Paul Ryan’s “Path to Prosperity”
by Joshua Lipana

An Interview with John R. Bolton on the Proper Role of Government

An Interview with Governor Gary Johnson on What he Would Do as President

The Mastermind behind SEAL Team Six and the End of Osama Bin Laden
by Daniel Wahl

An Interview with Sculptor Sandra J. Shaw

FILM REVIEWS

Captain America: The First Avenger, directed by Joe Johnston
Reviewed by C. A. Wolski

Lifting King Kong, directed by Park Geon-yong
Reviewed by Daniel Wahl

BOOK REVIEWS

A Time to Betray: The Astonishing Double Life of a CIA Agent Inside the Revolutionary Guards of Iran by Reza Kahlili
Reviewed by Daniel Wahl

Nomad by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Reviewed by Joseph Kellard

The Fear: Robert Mugabe and the Martyrdom of Zimbabwe by Peter Godwin
Reviewed by Daniel Wahl

The Bourgeois Virtues: Ethics for an Age of Commerce by Deirdre N. McCloskey
Reviewed by Richard M. Salsman

Gauntlet: Five Friends, 20,000 Enemy Troops, and the Secret That Could Have Changed the Course of the Cold War by Barbara Masin
Reviewed by John Cerasuolo

Crashing Through: The Extraordinary True Story of the Man Who Dared to See by Robert Kurson
Reviewed by Daniel Wahl

The Extra 2%: How Wall Street Strategies Took a Major League Baseball Team from Worst to First by Jonah Keri
Reviewed by Daniel Wahl

Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose by Tony Hsieh
Reviewed by Daniel Wahl

My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business: A Memoir by Dick Van Dyke
Reviewed by Daniel Wahl

DEPARTMENTS

From the Editor

Letters and Replies

If you’ve not yet subscribed to TOS, you can do so online or by calling 800-423-6151. The journal also makes a great gift for active-minded friends and relatives. Subscriptions start at just $29 and are available in print, online, e-book, and audio editions.

Please forward this post to anyone who might appreciate the journal or Dr. Lewis’s article.

The Summer 2011 Issue of TOS

TOS Admin — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:53:16 +0000

The online edition of the Summer issue has been posted to our website. The contents are:

ARTICLES

ObamaCare v. the Constitution
by Paul J. Beard II

The Iranian and Saudi Regimes Must Go
by Craig Biddle

Interview with Reza Kahlili, an Ex-CIA Spy Embedded in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards

Interview with Historian John David Lewis about U.S. Foreign Policy and the Middle East

The Government’s Assault on Private-Sector Colleges and Universities
by Craig Biddle

Interview with Andy Kessler about the Virtue of Eating People

FILM REVIEWS

Iranium, directed by Alex Traiman
Reviewed by Daniel Wahl

Temple Grandin, directed by Mick Jackson
Reviewed by C. A. Wolski

BOOK REVIEWS

Surrender Is Not an Option: Defending America at the United Nations and Abroad, by John Bolton

Reviewed by Gideon Reich

The Infidel: Chapter One, by Bosch Fawstin
Reviewed by Joshua Lipana

Why ObamaCare is Wrong For America: How the New Health Care Law Drives Up Costs, Puts Government in Charge of Your Decisions, and Threatens Your Constitutional Rights, by Grace-Marie Turner, James C.

Capretta, Thomas P. Miller, and Robert E. Moffit
Reviewed by Jared M. Rhoads

Ethical Oil: The Case for Canada’s Oil Sands, by Ezra Levant
Reviewed by Andrew Brannan

Anti-intellectualism in American Life, by Richard Hofstadter, and The Age of American Unreason, by Susan Jacoby
Reviewed by Burgess Laughlin

His Dark Materials Trilogy, by Philip Pullman
Reviewed by C. A. Wolski

Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything, by Joshua Foer
Reviewed by Daniel Wahl

Operation Mincemeat: How a Dead Man and a Bizarre Plan Fooled the Nazis and Assured an Allied Victory, by Ben Macintyre
Reviewed by Daniel Wahl

DEPARTMENTS

From the Editor

Letters and Replies

If you’ve not yet subscribed to TOS, you can do so online or by calling 800-423-6151. The journal also makes a great graduation gift. Subscriptions start at just $29 and are available in print, online, e-book, and audio editions.

Enjoy!

Interview with Sean Saulsbury

Daniel Wahl — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 11:00:33 +0000

I recently spoke with entrepreneur Sean Saulsbury about his work for TOS as a reader and producer of audio articles, and his other endeavors.

Daniel Wahl: Thanks for taking time to chat with me, Sean.

Sean Saulsbury: My pleasure.

DW: To give our readers an idea of who the man is behind that golden voice, let me begin by asking about your business background. What kind of work did you do before getting involved with TOS?

SS: For about eight years I was co-owner and Managing Partner at Box Office Mojo, a popular movie Web site that reports theatrical box office results. I built the company, along with my business partner, Brandon Gray, into a publication that served nearly 2 million readers a month. I’ve always loved movies, technology, and business, so running my own company in this space was a great fit for me. We sold the company in July of 2008 to IMDb.com, however, and I left the company a year ago to pursue other interests, including doing voice over work for TOS.

DW: And we’re glad to have you working with us. What motivated you to get into voiceover work?

SS: I enjoy this kind of work because it gives me an outlet for performance without much overhead. I was in several plays in high school—and even had the lead in a few of them—and, because I was more of a “behind the scenes” guy at Box Office Mojo, I hadn’t had an outlet for performance for years. There are things I don’t like about acting—memorizing lines being the major one—but voiceover work is great because I get to perform without having to do tedious prep work, and I can do it from the comfort of my own home.

DW: What are some of the challenges involved?

SS: The biggest challenge for the TOS work is to find the “voice” of the piece I am reading. Each author has his own writing style and so I try to connect with that, put myself in his or her mindset as best I can in order to illustrate the theme of a given piece, for a performance perspective. Also, figuring out what the piece is about, in my own mind, while reading it, is a challenge. This can be different from the theme of an article, and I try to attach an emotional or motivational word to it. Some articles should be read more matter-of-fact, others very impassioned. Sometimes they’re skeptical of their subject matter, and sometimes they’re in love with their subject matter, and I find that and embrace it as best I can.

DW: Why did you choose to work specifically with TOS?

SS: I wanted to work with TOS because they create great content about current, culturally relevant issues from an Objectivist perspective, and I can pretty much guarantee that anything I read out of the journal will be interesting and thought-provoking. For me, performing isn’t an end in itself, and I really need content that I believe in to do a piece justice. It also allows me to “chew” and “digest” each piece in TOS a bit more than I used to. Since I have to perform it, I’m spending a lot more time with each article—there’s a stronger purpose for me to analyze what I’m reading—and that allows me to obtain a deeper understanding of the pieces in TOS as well. Plus, everyone is really easy and fun to work with. That makes doing this a real joy.

DW: What are some of your favorite readings so far, and why?

SS: Let me start with the most challenging, which would be Yaron Brook’s article, “The Morality of Moneylending.” Generally, the two things I least like to read are Shakespeare and the Bible. So imagine my surprise when I find I’m reading extensively from both of these—and in an Objectivist publication, no less! But I managed to get past that and, I think, do a decent job reading those parts of the article.

I’ve also enjoyed reading the chapters from Craig Biddle’s book, Loving Life, that have appeared in the past several editions of TOS. Craig has a writing style that syncs well with me, and I find it very enjoyable to follow his logic and express the core messages he’s trying to convey throughout his articles.

Because I enjoy reading anything related to business and the history of it, my favorite reading is probably an article on Standard Oil by Alex Epstein. That was a great read and fun to perform.

DW: What other projects are you involved with now that might be of interest to TOS readers?

SS: I maintain a personal blog where I write from time-to-time about whatever fancies me. But TOS readers will most likely be interested in the two audio podcasts I’m currently producing.

One is an interview show on small business called The Independent Entrepreneur, where I interview small business owners about creative vision, leadership, and making one’s way in the world of business.

The other is called The Movie Film Show, which is a movie review show covering current theatrical releases by the characters Mr. Movie and Mr. Film (I play the Mr. Movie character). The “Mr. Movie” character never says the word “film” and Mr. Film never says “movie”—unless they’re addressing each other of course. It’s a good mix of critical reviews and discussion, combined with a bit of humor and just plain fun.

DW: Thanks for your time today, Sean—and, as a fan of both shows, thanks for those too!

SS: Thank you.

An Interview with Karl Kowalski

The Spring 2011 Issue of TOS

TOS Admin — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 04:22:47 +0000

The print edition of the Spring issue is at press and will be mailed shortly; the online, e-book, and audio versions will be accessible to subscribers beginning March 20, 25, and 30 respectively; and the Kindle edition will be delivered to Kindle subscribers on March 30. For promotional purposes, we’ve made available on our website early and for free both Michael A. LaFerrara’s article “Toward a Free Market in Education: School Vouchers or Tax Credits?” and C. A. Wolski’s review of Atlas Shrugged: Part 1.

The contents of the Spring issue are:

ARTICLES

Health Care and the Separation of Charity and State
by Paul Hsieh

Toward a Free Market in Education: School Vouchers or Tax Credits?
by Michael A. LaFerrara

Atlas Shrugged’s Long Journey to the Silver Screen
by C. A. Wolski

An Interview with Atlas Shrugged Movie Producer Harmon Kaslow

Economics in Atlas Shrugged
by Richard M. Salsman

James J. Hill and the Great Northern Railroad
by Talbot Manvel

Walt Disney’s EPCOT: The City of Tomorrow that Might Have Been
by Gretchen Thomas

A Symphony of History: Will Durant’s The Story of Civilization
by Dan Norton

COLUMNS

Around the World: “The Communist War against the Philippines and Why It Rages On,” by Joshua Lipana

FILM REVIEWS

Atlas Shrugged: Part I, directed by Paul Johansson
Reviewed by C. A. Wolski

The King’s Speech, directed by Tom Hooper
Reviewed by C. A. Wolski

BOOK REVIEWS

Leaving Johnny Behind: Overcoming Barriers to Literacy and Reclaiming At-Risk Readers, by Anthony Pedriana
Reviewed by Laura Hilse

Terrorist Hunter: The Extraordinary Story of a Woman Who Went Undercover to Infiltrate the Radical Islamic Groups Operating in America, by Anonymous
Reviewed by Daniel Wahl

The Philosophical Breakfast Club: Four Remarkable Friends Who Transformed Science and Changed the World, by Laura J. Snyder
Reviewed by Roderick Fitts

The Sleuth Investor: Uncover the Best Stocks Before They Make Their Move, by Avner Mandelman
Reviewed by Daniel Wahl

DEPARTMENTS

From the Editor

Letters and Replies

If you’ve not yet subscribed to TOS, why not do so today? Subscriptions start at just $29 and are available in print, online, e-book, and audio editions. Subscribe online or by calling 800-423-6151.

Also, please help spread the word about TOS by forwarding this email to friends who might appreciate the journal.

Enjoy!

The Winter 2010 Issue of TOS

TOS Admin — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 18:54:01 +0000

The print edition of the Winter issue is at press and will be mailed shortly; the online version will be accessible to subscribers beginning December 20. Both the winning entry from the first annual TOS essay contest and my interview with Andrew Schiff are available on our website early and for free.

The contents of the Winter issue are:

From the Editor
Letters and Replies
Essay Contest Winner

ARTICLES

The Republicans’ Opportunity to Restore America . . . and Their Obstacle
by Craig Biddle

The Educational Bonanza in Privatizing Government Schools
by Andrew Bernstein

An Interview with Andrew Schiff about Fishing Nets, Hut Gluts, and other Economic Matters

India’s Commonwealth Games: A National Disgrace
by Chak Kakani

Andrew Carnegie: The Richest Man in the World
by Scott Holleran

The Conclusion of Loving Life
by Craig Biddle

FILMS REVIEWED

Waiting for “Superman,” directed by Davis Guggenheim
Reviewed by Sean Saulsbury

Burzynski: The Movie, directed by Eric Merola
Reviewed by C. A. Wolski

BOOKS REVIEWED

How Barack Obama is Endangering our National Sovereignty, by John R. Bolton
Reviewed by Daniel Wahl

The Dhandho Investor: The Low-Risk Value Method to High Returns, by Mohnish Pabrai
Reviewed by Daniel Wahl

Appetite for America: How Visionary Businessman Fred Harvey Built a Railroad Hospitality Empire That Civilized the Wild West, by Stephen Fried
Reviewed by Jules Klapper

Mind Over Mood: Change How You Feel by Changing the Way You Think, by Dennis Greenberger and Christine A. Padesky
Reviewed by Daniel Wahl

Repotting Harry Potter: A Professor’s Book-by-Book Guide for the Serious Re-Reader, by James W. Thomas
Reviewed by Daniel Wahl

If you have not yet subscribed to TOS, why not do so today? Subscriptions start as low as $29 (8 ¢ a day) and are now available in six formats: print, online, Kindle, audio, e-book, and premium. Full descriptions and pricing can be found on the subscriptions page of our website.

TOS also makes The Perfect Christmas Gift for friends, relatives, and coworkers. You could complete your Christmas shopping in minutes and change their worldviews for life.

Enjoy the issue and the holidays!

Don’t Say Grace, Say Justice

Craig Biddle — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 18:45:19 +0000

Did God make the ambrosia that melts in your mouth, or the asthma medicine that keeps your child alive, or the plush recliner in which you relax, or the big-screen TV on which you watch your favorite show? Did God create the jetliners that bring friends and family from afar, or the stealth bombers that keep the barbarians at bay, or the music that warms your heart and fuels your soul?

To say grace is to give credit where none is due—and, worse, it is to withhold credit where it is due. To say grace is to commit an act of injustice.

The Summer Issue of TOS

Craig Biddle — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 17:53:56 +0000

The print edition of the Summer issue has been mailed; the online and e-book versions have been posted to our website; and the audio version will be posted on Wednesday, June 30. (Due to production setbacks, the print edition mailed a few days late. I apologize for the delay.)

The contents of the Summer issue are:

From the Editor

Letters and Replies

ARTICLES

Israel and America’s Flotilla Follies (and How To Avoid Them in the Future)
by Craig Biddle

Why Anthony Daniels Smears Ayn Rand
by Alan Germani

How to Protect Yourself Against ObamaCare
by Paul Hsieh

The Montessori Method: Educating Children for a Lifetime of Learning and Happiness
by Heike Larson

A Review of the Korean Television Series Dae Jang Geum
by Sarah Biddle

An Interview with Philosopher of Science David Harriman

Objective Moral Virtues: Principled Actions
by Craig Biddle

BOOKS REVIEWED

Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism, by Susan Jacoby
Reviewed by Daniel Wahl

The Beginnings of Western Science: The European Scientific Tradition in Philosophical, Religious, and Institutional Context, Prehistory to A.D. 1450, 2nd ed., by David C. Lindberg
Reviewed by Frederick Seiler

The Greatest Trade Ever: The Behind-the-Scenes Story of How John Paulson Defied Wall Street and Made Financial History, by Gregory Zuckerman
Reviewed by Daniel Wahl

That First Season, by John Eisenberg
Reviewed by Joseph Kellard

If you have not yet subscribed to TOS, you can do so now and achieve instant access to this new issue and all back issues. Subscriptions start as low as $29. Subscribe online or by calling 800-423-6151.

Enjoy!