I am a radical rationalist. What does this mean? At a basic level, it signifies a drive to follow rational trains of thought to their furthest extent, and then follow up my reasoning by doing everything I can to convince others to do the same. I want to be clear on this: I want people to follow the same reasoning process, not necessarily ensure that they reach the same conclusions. Debate is good and listening to different points of view and new ideas can reveal flaws in logic and tangential lines of reasoning that I might not have otherwise considered. I believe that all our questions have one best answer, even if there might be more than one correct one, and I will not always find the best one on the first try.
A truly radical rationalist, however, is set apart not simply by their willingness to think outside the box. Throughout history, radicals have been those who have committed themselves to backing up their conclusions with action, and I don’t think that we should be any different today. That is why I am committed to taking steps in support of my conclusions, whether on the topic of prosecuting torturers to the fullest extent of the law, in supporting the rights of those in the LGBT community, in preserving the separation of church and state, or in any other cause I advocate in these pages.
In the interest of full disclosure, I should mention that I was a strong supporter of the Obama campaign during the 2008 elections. I formed a grassroots group in central Missouri to help campaign for the then-Senator. As anyone who has read these pages can attest, I do not blindly follow the President, though, more often than not, I do agree with the spirit if not the exact implementation of White House policy. One significant point of departure is on the issue investigating allegations of torture under the Bush Administration. Another concerns the continuing unwillingness of the Democrats to call the Republican filibuster bluff.
It is my sincere hope that you will consider the arguments I outline on this site. If you agree with them, join me in helping to forward our common causes. If you disagree, tell me why. I enjoy discovering new points of view.