What's this all about?

I have debated with myself the wisdom of including an 'introduction' to my blog. Would it be too contrived and formulaic, or would it be a useful tool for people trying to understand whats going on? In the end the pro-intro side won the debate. So let me explain briefly what I envision for this blog: I plan to think out loud. I don't expect many readers, and that is fine with me. Truly I just need a place to work out some of the complex ideas that are swirling around not fully integrated in my mind. Let me note however that I do not subscribe to the 'stream of consciousness' school of writing, i.e. regurgitating whatever random thoughts surface in ones mind with out any logical connections. When I say that I will think out loud the emphasis is on thinking. Thought requires a rigorous logical process, and this is what I hope to present. Through the process of presenting my thoughts I hope to be able to fully concretize them for myself.

So what kinds of thoughts will I think out loud about? Mostly philosophical thoughts. Before you fall asleep or flee in terror however consider this: every human being lives by some philosophy or another which guides all of his actions and shapes the outcome of his life. You cannot escape the need for some form of philosophy. But how many people have taken the time and mental effort to consciously examine the philosophy that directs them? Very few I would venture to say. So what then guides them? Random bits and pieces of various philosophies picked up here and there. Slogans, vague generalities, and trite bromides are heard in passing conversation, at school or work, picked up in books and movies, or invented on the spot, etc. Lacking any conscious effort to digest these ideas, the subconscious is forced to take them and mash them together into a mongrel philosophy. This Frankenstein of a philosophy becomes the guide of ones life, directing how one thinks, acts, and lives. But are the ideas that are guiding you true, i.e. consistent with reality? Do the principles you have accepted contradict each other? Where do the guidelines you subscribe to lead you when they are followed to their logical conclusion? Do you even know how to draw a logical conclusion? If you have not consciously thought through your philosophy then you cannot know the answers to these questions. How risky is it to let the thing that guides your entire life to be left up to chance! We generally look down on the fool who goes to Vegas and bets the house on the roulette wheel because he feels lucky, but then many of us are willing to bet our very lives that the random ideas we've been exposed to will serve us just fine and bear no further thought.

I am digressing however. My object is not to convince you that philosophy is important, but rather to explain my reason for my subject matter. I do hope you take the opportunity to think about the questions I write about, and you may agree with me or not, that matters little. In fact, as I have already written this blog is mostly for myself and my process of self examination.

A few disclaimers:
-I will not present an entire philosophy from beginning to logical end here. I will write as questions come to me and elaborate on principles when I think it is relevant. One should never accept an idea, however, without understanding the underlying principles and premises it relies upon. Therefor if you are interested in understanding the philosophy that guides me it is called Objectivism and was created by the great author and thinker Ayn Rand. I refer you to her work which is much more qualified to present the full basis of her philosophy.
-I am writing for myself so forgive me if sometimes I sound preachy or condescending. I will do my best to not be overly long winded, and I intend to severely edit myself to make my writing readable, but I am who I am and my style is how it is. Sorry in advance.