Can you ID these short stories and help me find them? I think there were at least two, they were written by Keith Laumer, and they appeared in a paperback IF anthology that I can't find. They are about the right of revolution (one may be titled something like that) and take place on a mining colony on another planet. I think the first is about the miners who revolt and are led by an Ayn-Rand-character-like person (his name is John Ralt or something). The second is about the 'ARcl' person who is now in charge and must deal with dissenters who contest his moral and political authority. And were there any more stories in this vein, or just two?
posted by Mr. Justice on Jul 8, 2009 - 5 answers

What are some simple experiments that help explain complicated phenomena? [more inside]
posted by Christ, what an asshole on Jul 6, 2009 - 15 answers

What are some easy, relatively quick ways to learn to write better, think clearer, and express myself better? [more inside]
posted by Bageena on Jan 28, 2009 - 24 answers

What scientific studies should you believe? [more inside]
posted by theholotrope on Jan 17, 2009 - 30 answers

I don´t have a brilliant academic career or anything. I live in Brazil, I just turned 24, and just recently majored in communication/journalism. For the past few years my main interest has been political philosophy and political science. I would like to study abroad, preferably in the United States or United Kingdom. [more inside]
posted by sumo on Nov 27, 2008 - 5 answers

20-something INTP, bored to death in his corporate gig, asks: What should I do with my life? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on May 8, 2008 - 28 answers

I love podcasts, but it very difficult to find new, quality programs. I am looking for broadcasted material on a range of topics - including philosophy, the mind, avantgarde arts and lectures by creative, original thinkers (see my list of current podcasts for detail)... Can you help? [more inside]
posted by 0bvious on May 31, 2007 - 20 answers

Is science a philosophy? Is philosophy a science?
posted by hiro on May 14, 2007 - 18 answers

Deceptively unchatfilter =P I am looking for good discussions on Occam's Razor -- which I think is obscenely absurd. Looking for links to discussions, not necessarily petitioning comments (although welcome). [more inside]
posted by vanoakenfold on Feb 13, 2007 - 28 answers

How is my belief that the world is round any more scientific than someone else's belief that a benevolent deity listens to her prayers? (I know this may seem chatty or open-ended, but I have a feeling that there is a neat argument out there that would wrap up this question for me, and meanwhile I'm in a bit of philosophical crisis about it.) [more inside]
posted by CrunchyGods on Dec 4, 2006 - 60 answers

Science and Metaphysics from the inside of virtual worlds? [more inside]
posted by empath on Nov 20, 2006 - 13 answers

Help me find an obscure R.A. Lafferty quote. [more inside]
posted by rwhe on Aug 28, 2006 - 0 answers

I'm looking for book or movie characters and/or plots that follow this particular scenario: A prisoner or potential rescue victim are told that salvation (being broken out, being rescued) can come only if the person agrees to have all prior memories and events that make up their personalities wiped out, leaving only a blank, but functioning, 'consciousness.' Any ideas? Specific quotes?
posted by slow, man on Oct 4, 2005 - 21 answers

I am looking for a quote from an article. The quote discussed how the current state of the art in technology usually became the metaphor for how we understand and describe the universe. The article is probably 5-6 years old, but was posted on the web (I probably accessed it through Arts and Letters Daily). [more inside]
posted by Hildago on Mar 1, 2005 - 7 answers