"These situations, where logic doesn’t reach or is inadequate, are more common than perfect positive-negative situations. We have to make baseless decisions all the time, even in how we choose our words in communications like this one. I could be paralyzed by inaction if I don’t take risks and go ahead with what I choose to say. If I think about it a little longer, I may be able to come up with something even more logical. In order to get anything down here at all, I have to suspend logic and just go with it. Everybody does this if they are in the least bit reflective."

“There are valuable things in both Existentialism and Objectivism, but both have problems in their pure forms. Pure Objectivism has a problem with freedom, but Existentialism has a problem with facts, with laws of nature which do pre-exist us and are external to us. There is an essence to humanness such that an Asian in Asia is no more or less human than an American in Spokane. Rand would recognize this and realize, as did Locke and Jefferson, that it follows from this that all men have natural rights to pursue life and happiness. Reason does not reach all situations, as was pointed out in the essay above, so man must have some freedom to forge his own paths. The parameters in which he is free to do this, however, must be generalizable, objective.”

"Reason does not reach all situations..." He never adequately qualified that before he departed...

It is sad to see the passing of anyone who has been part of Solo.

In July 2006, Nick and I had a nice discussion about Existentialism and Objectivism.

http://rebirthofreason.com/Forum/Dissent/0070.shtml#1

http://rebirthofreason.com/Forum/Dissent/0070.shtml#7

http://rebirthofreason.com/Forum/Dissent/0070.shtml#11

From the root of that thread, Nick’s main view:

 “There are valuable things in both Existentialism and Objectivism, but both have problems in their pure forms.  Pure Objectivism has a problem with freedom, but Existentialism has a problem with facts, with laws of nature which do pre-exist us and are external to us.  There is an essence to humanness such that an Asian in Asia is no more or less human than an American in Spokane.  Rand would recognize this and realize, as did Locke and Jefferson, that it follows from this that all men have natural rights to pursue life and happiness.  Reason does not reach all situations, as was pointed out in the essay above, so man must have some freedom to forge his own paths.  The parameters in which he is free to do this, however, must be generalizable, objective.”

He was sore,frustrated soul, and now it is clear, he was very sick man. If I were a believer in afterlife I'd say " Bis bald,Nick"

he always?

Nick attempted to take the best of Rand and forge a new synthesis.

I wish more Objectivists around here would follow his good example.

Matty!

And Nick.

It's a shame we seldom got along. And a shame we'll now never get the chance to.

EDIT:

Just found this quote of Nicks posted by a fan on his board:

"I think there would be little point to life if it did not end in
death. I do not give up on life simply because it ends in death.
Rather, life is much
more meaningful and important because of its perishable nature. I only
have one life to live, and I want to make the most of it." 

Here, here. 

He was so desperate for debate, yet made it so difficult. He dealt in straw men; the Objectivism he claimed to have neo-ed was a straw-man Objectivism, and for all his protestations he was not open to rational persuasion about that—which is why I for one quickly gave up on according him the engagement he craved. I gather he came to SOLO after being booted from everywhere else. I won't say we weren't tempted to boot him from here, too, sometimes, but I'm glad now we didn't. It doesn't hurt to be challenged to check one's premises, even if the challenger refuses to check his.

I believe we gave him a SOLO Award for perseverance in the face of overwhelming indifference, with his Alice series and what-not. Still, I think affectionately of his grumpy eccentricity and ... yes, his perseverance.

I never knew what "bis bald" meant. Evidently it's German for "see you soon." In the circumstances, I hope not! I'll settle for a respectful goodbye, and sadness over what might have been.

Linz

You will be missed.

he'll be debating whether it is really death or a long sleep.

Sounds like he had an interesting life. I'm sorry to hear of his passing.

Jim

vanquished vet
I did not wish him dead
only that his argument would end
bye, Nick