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Freedomain
Hi there, this is Stefan Molyneux - welcome to Freedomain, the Locals community! One of the last homes for real philosophy in the world!
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This is a place where we strive to achieve the truth through consistent virtue - a great playground for innovative ideas and interactions!
Feel free to have a look around, chat with other members, share your thoughts, objections, arguments and memes!
This is a place where we strive to achieve the truth through consistent virtue - a great playground for innovative ideas and interactions!
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Stefan Molyneux@freedomain
November 05, 2025
How to be CERTAIN! Listener Question
Hey Stef. I have been listening to you for around a year and this is the first time I have disagreed with you. So I’m probably wrong but I can’t see the flaw in my thinking and I’d love your take on it.
So it’s around your discussion about what is truth and if someone, say a madman says something that happens to align with reality before it can be proven is that a true statement?
My argument would be, yes it is a true statement, however this can not be known until it can be proven and the statement itself has no value other than vague interest.
So to take the example given a mad man happens to be recorded in say 500 AD saying the earth orbits the sun. He is dismissed as a lunatic. Was his random statement true? I would argue it was true however that could not be known until the point at which it was shown that the earth orbiting the sun fixed the irregular orbit issue. At that point however the madman would be proven to be speaking a true statement.
However it would be the first person to actually prove the theory that would get credit for the discovery, not the madman - who happened to guess correctly. At the point the theory was proven knowledge of the truth propagates both forwards and backwards in time and whoever said it, it would now be known to be true regardless of when or where they said it. It is still the case that although we now know that the statement was true when said they could not have known this as it was not yet proven.
So we have two things, objective reality that exists and our knowledge of it that can only be interpreted from evidence.
Another example is University exams. After the exam is sat the result is set. However that exam result can not be known until the exam has been graded and the result communicated to you. If you come out of an exam and say “I got 68.5%” then that could be true but it is just a guess. You would not for example be able to get a job on that assertion as it can not be proven.
When you open the envelope does not change the reality of how you did in the exam. It simply collapses the probabilities both backwards and forwards in time. At that point you know what your result when you took the test was. It has not changed since that point however you can only know it once you get the result at which point you can start using that result to say apply for jobs.
So in summary my argument is
1. Objective reality exists
2. Our knowledge of reality does not change reality
3. Things are true or false based on their agreement to reality
4. Statements are therefore true or false based on their alignment with reality, not our knowledge of it
5. However we can not know what it true or false until it is proven
6. We can only say of a statement was true or false after we have proven the reality, but when a statement was said does not change its truth.
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The Logic of Spanking
Stefan Molyneux explores the debate on corporal punishment, specifically spanking, within child-rearing practices. He examines the moral implications of using force against children compared to adults, arguing that while violence is morally unacceptable in adult interactions, society still permits spanking. Molyneux challenges the justification of corporal punishment by questioning the assumption that children are incapable of reason and drawing comparisons with mentally impaired individuals. He critiques the idea that spanking is a necessary preventive measure for worse behaviors, advocating instead for positive reinforcement models over negative consequences. This discussion highlights the detrimental effects of physical punishment on children's understanding of empathy and respect, ultimately calling for a reevaluation of disciplinary methods towards more compassionate approaches in parenting.
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UPB Versus Evil!
Philosopher Stefan Molyneux provides a philosophical exploration of morality, centering on the concept of universally preferable behavior (UPB) and its role in defining moral actions. He examines the immorality of actions such as theft and assault, arguing that they violate UPB's principles. Through a logical framework, the discussion distinguishes between moral and immoral actions, asserting that any action failing to be universally preferable cannot be deemed moral.
Stefan highlights the asymmetry of force initiation, underscoring that coercion inherently contradicts moral behavior. The implications of advocating flawed moral theories are also explored, illustrating how these theories can lead to destructive real-world consequences. He emphasizes the importance of logical coherence in ethical theories and warns against self-contradictory moral claims, concluding that adherence to UPB is essential for a just society.
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NEW PREMIUM CONTENT - MY BROTHER DIED OF DRUGS! Twitter/X Space
In this subscriber-only Sunday Morning Live on 23 November 2025, Stefan Molyneux discusses childhood discipline and family dynamics sparked by a controversial video of a mother beating her child. A caller shares a painful story of addiction and neglect, leading Stefan to examine toxic parental behaviors and the cycle of abuse. He emphasizes the need for rational parenting and personal growth, inviting listeners to reflect on familial responsibility and emotional well-being.
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