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The following is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to any real
persons, either living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Permission is granted to distribute this freely on the internet via
the following electronic channels: the Usenet newsgroups
'humanities.philosophy.objectivism' and 'alt.philosophy.objectivism',
other Usenet newsgroups, the mailing list Moderated Discussion of
Objectivist Philosophy (MDOP), or via private e-mail. The only condition
I impose is that this story be distributed unaltered and intact, with this
copyright notice included in its entirety.
However, I do *not* grant permission for this to be circulated on
the mailing list Objectivism Study Group (OSG). Based on what I know of
that group, I have nothing against individual OSG members or their
moderator, Robert Stubblefield. In fact, if I later deem it to be in my
self-interest, I would consider joining OSG and abiding by their conditions.
But it has been made clear to me that at this point in time, OSG
policy is such that the OSG list declines to trade values with me (due to
the fact that I occasionaly post to the MDOP e-mail list).
Hence, I wish to decline to add *my* values to the OSG mailing
list. My self-respect demands no less.
Members of OSG are of course welcome to read this story through any
of the above-mentioned channels.
Since I don't read OSG, I will be unable to directly determine
first-hand if my request will be honored. Based on the information I
currently have about OSG, I have no reason to believe that it would be not
be honored. However, if by some chance, my intellectual property rights
are (perhaps inadvertently) violated, then I would appreciate being
informed.
Otherwise, any constructive comments or criticisms about literary or
philosophical aspects of this story will be happily received.
Thank you.
(C) Paul Hsieh, September 1994.
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AXIOMS
A Short Story
by Paul S. Hsieh
"Sometimes, Walter, you Objectivists can be so damned
exasperating!", said Dr. Rawlings. "I just came out of an oral thesis
defense of one of the Computer Science graduate students. He was so
damned certain he was right about the nature of knowledge. He dared to
cite Ayn Rand as the inspiring influence behind his work on
pseudo-conceptual database engines, knowing full well that I was on his
committee and that I think her work on epistemology is a crock of
shit!".
Jeremy Rawlings, Professor of Computer Science and Adjunct Professor
of Neurobiology shook his soup spoon in mock-anger. A drop of clam
chowder flew from the edge of the spoon and landed on his chin, the pale
white of the soup blending in with the grey hairs of his thick,
well-manicured beard. With an annoyed look on his face, he grabbed for his
napkin and wiped it off.
His lunch companion and long-time friend Walter Emsden, Professor
and Chairman of the Department of Philosophy, laughed. Swallowing the