Philosophy

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1. dmfdmfJun 2018
   cf.;Philosophy: Who Needs It. By Ayn Rand. http://fare.tunes.org/liberty/library/pwni.html

   tldr: Everyone needs a rational philosophy.

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2. dmfdmfMar 2018
   I don't think there is any secret answer other than you choose to do it, modern philosophers notwithstanding, you have free will. Translating your ideas and theories in into practical action is part of being human but I suppose that it is natural to stress the theoretical because it feels safer, more controllable, etc. They call this analysis paralysis in the business schools. Taking consistent action toward a goal is fraught with new challenges and the need for new skills that will push you out of your comfort zone. After a certain age many people try to avoid it.

   In any case, it sounds like you are making a lot of progress in a positive direction in your life but mostly by removing negatives instead of achieving positives. Nothing wrong with that and given your context that is where you needed to start. But the process doesn't stop there, eventually you'll run out of negatives to remove and have to start thinking about actual positive achievements in your career or personal life. This might be the step that caused you to flame out before so you might want to consider what you really value and what you want to do with your life in terms of positives[1]. As a fellow dropout I know the state of not feeling "ready" once you are on the school/work/career/family path but now that you are presumably older, wiser and more mature things have changed so figure it out.

   [1] More theory but also relevant to your question and very practical, Ayn Rand's "Philosophy:Who Needs It" and "The Virtue of Selfishness."

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3. abtinfNov 2017
   Since you seem to be interested in ideas, in how we know things, and how ideas can impact the degree to which we flourish in life, I will suggest two books to you that made a lot of sense to me.

   https://www.amazon.com/Objectivism-Philosophy-Ayn-Rand-Libra...

   https://www.amazon.com/How-Know-Epistemology-Objectivist-Fou...

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4. dmfdmfNov 2016
   If the hallmark of an intellectual is respect for reason, honesty, integrity and the facts then clearly BOTH sides of the political aisle are lacking in these character traits. The "Right" and Reps make no pretense to be advocates of reason since they are the religious party based on faith. The "Left" postures as the reasonable, respectable and intellectual alternative to the Right and yet they feel compelled to shut down any opposition with ad hom, smears, political correctness and, since the govt controls virtually all the scientific research, cutting off your funding if you don't toe the line. The trick is then to say "see, even science supports our positions" and to use that to advance political goals with a rigged system. This is what Ayn Rand called "The Establishing of an Establishment" in her book "Philosophy: Who Needs It" which you should read if your question is honest.

   That said, I think there is certainly some anti-intellectualism on the Right and behind Trump's success (no surprise). However, I don't think the nation is awash in irrationality, racism, misogyny, etc (though that is the Left's scary, dishonest spin) and the election was, at least partly, a repudiation of the Left's posturing as the intellectual, reasonable alternative.

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5. dmfdmfNov 2016
   I think that creativity is essentially an emotional process hence its tie to what you call being "obsessed". There are two cognitive errors that are inhibiting your creativity.

   The first is if, in general, you repress your emotions, i.e. feel them yet stifle them instead of allowing yourself to feel them, then you are unavoidably also stifling your creativity. Many people are afraid to express their emotions especially the negative ones like hate, fear, anger, etc. out of fear of social disapproval or in the mistaken belief that rationality means to be unemotional, like Spock. The problem is that the good emotions like love, joy, happiness, desire, etc. get repressed in the cross-fire as repression indiscriminately chops off your highs and lows.

   The second cause is being uncertain about what you believe is true and right and thus self-doubt that you will be worthy of or able to even achieve success. In any serious endeavor you are going to run into resistance from naysayers and other barriers to your goal. More importantly, such goals are inherently selfish and there is 2000 years of anti-selfish propaganda floating around the culture. One common adage to counter the self-doubt is to "fake it till you make it" which many rational people dismiss as obvious non-sense. However, that adage is not meant as advice to be dishonest or a "faker" but to take action regardless of your self-doubt or fears, because in the end you will develop the skills, ability, mental toughness to achieve and enjoy the ends you seek.

   The goal is not to fear and repress your emotions nor to go through life without strong convictions (what you believe is true and right) but to understand both and change them if necessary. The good news is that there is an Rx for both of these cognitive errors which is to write a daily journal to examine and revise your conscious convictions and your subconscious emotions. Moreover, to counter the onslaught of anti-selfishness in the culture and lay down a path to being integrated in mind/body and thought/action you should read Ayn Rand's "The Virtue of Selfishness" and "Philosophy:Who Needs It".

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6. dmfdmfNov 2016
   If anyone on the left was paying attention they would know that it isn't science -v- anti-science as they demonize it but politicized science -v- independent science. It is amazing to me that the same people that dismiss "tobacco" or "soda industry" science/scientists have no problem accepting "government" science at face value. That govt now funds the vast majority of scientific research in the world it should come as no surprise that a lot of it such "science" is used to justify increasing govt power. This is not an explicit policy or devious strategy but implicit outcome of govt funded science performed by real human beings who respond to incentives. Read Ayn Rand's "The Establishing of an Establishment" in "Philosophy:Who Needs It" for a good explanation of the process. The politicization of science is destroying the credibility of science which should come as no surprise.

   NB: Before anyone jumps to conclusions; not a Trump supporter and did not vote for him. Also, I think that global warming is probably true based on historical and temperature records (but I put almost zero confidence in "climate models") but it is not nearly as dire as the scaremongers suggest.

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