(Mises)—Many people are familiar with the divisive concepts of Critical Race Theory (CRT). The best-known examples are the notion of “white privilege” and the redefinition of racism as “power plus privilege.” These concepts have been widely rejected, and even banned from public schools in some states. However, less often remarked upon is CRT’s more pernicious rejection of truth and reason. It is not merely that CRT believes truth to be relative, but that it rejects the importance of reason and facts altogether: “its proponents reject objective truth, reason, and empirical evidence. Instead, critical theorists assert that only identity and oppression matter.”
CRT is not alone in rejecting the idea of objective truth, as that is the essence of relativist theories. The particular danger posed by CRT to the institutions that have embraced it, including public offices fulfilling executive, legislative, and judicial functions, does not simply arise from CRT insisting that you have “your truth” and I have “my truth.” The bigger problem is that, in CRT, truth varies based on one’s racial identity. Thus, in CRT the concept of objective truth is treated as a Western value derived from the “ethics of whiteness.” For example, Charles Mills argues that the concept of “white ignorance” denotes “a group-based cognitive handicap” affecting white people. According to Mills, black people by contrast have “epistemic privilege” which enables them to avoid the “epistemic pitfalls” of those classified as “white knowers.”
In his introduction to Human Action, Ludwig von Mises rejects “the polylogism of the racists.” He describes that epistemological approach as one in which “there exists between various races a difference in the logical structure of mind.” From that premise, it follows that each race has “a logic of its own.” Mises also rejects Marxist class polylogism, which “asserts that man’s thinking is determined by his class affiliation [and that] every social class has a logic of its own,” from which it follows that “the product of thought cannot be anything else than an ‘ideological disguise’ of the selfish class interests of the thinker.” For the same reasons he also rejects historical polylogism, which “asserts that the logical structure of human thought and action is liable to change in the course of historical evolution.” Mises warns that, although the influence of all these forms of polylogism spreads beyond the field of economics, with implications for all disciplines, including the physical and biological sciences, nevertheless “it is the sciences of human action that they really have in view.” Their real target is economic science. He observes that the central aim of polylogists is to reject the notion that any universal principles can be derived in relation to human beings:
They say that it is an illusion to believe that scientific research can achieve results valid for people of all eras, races, and social classes, and they take pleasure in disparaging certain physical and biological theories as bourgeois or Western.
The significance of polylogists deriding any principles as “bourgeois” or “Western” is that such principles need not be respected or upheld by those who don’t “identify” with these groups—any principle can simply be dismissed out-of-hand on grounds that it only applies to those of Western heritage. Thus, we heard it said in Congress, during debate on the Dismantle DEI Act, that oppression is a state of affairs which only black people experience and no white men have ever experienced oppression. This is “true” in CRT, because their premise is that the meaning of oppression is racially determined. Similarly, some of the dissenting opinions in the Supreme Court affirmative action case would not be out of place in a CRT manual, where the view is expressed that “colorblindness” is wrong because the “truth” is that legal rights are racially determined:
“With let-them-eat-cake obliviousness, today, the majority pulls the ripcord and announces ‘colorblindness for all’ by legal fiat,” [Justice Ketanji Brown] Jackson wrote. “But deeming race irrelevant in law does not make it so in life.”
As those examples illustrate, the message championed by CRT adherents is that everyone’s reality is based on race, and that DEI laws are to be commended for acknowledging this reality while banning affirmative action is wrong because that would impose “colorblindness for all by legal fiat.” Such arguments are now heard, not only in the humanities and social sciences, but even in the natural sciences. It is said, for example, that fields such as mathematics ought to be “decolonized” to make their principles relevant to different races and cultures.
Mises’s rejection of polylogism was explicated in response to the then-prevailing philosophy which presumed reason and logic to be determined by one’s class, race, or the epoch to which he belongs. Mises’s goal in Human Action was to explain the science of economics as a universal science. Hence, he rejected the previously prevailing notion that principles of economics vary from one person or one group to another, and that “its teachings are valid only for the capitalist system of the short-lived and already vanished liberal period of Western civilization.” He aimed to explain economic principles not as true in a specific time for a specific group of people, but “a regularity of phenomena to which man must adjust his action if he wishes to succeed.” These principles apply to all human beings, of all races, at all times.
In addition to rejecting racial polylogism, Mises also rejects the forms of relativism which hold that there is no objective truth or objective reality. The subjective theory of value—the principle that there is no such thing as an absolute moral value that everyone ought to uphold—does not imply that there are no universal principles—otherwise Mises would be contradicting himself. David Gordon clarifies this important point in “Mises and Moral Relativism”:
Does this make Mises a moral relativist? He doesn’t think that there is anything to the concept of “value” other than subjective preferences, so if this is what you mean by a relativist, he was one. But this isn’t the way most philosophers today use the term. A moral relativist is someone who, as the name suggests, thinks that morality is relative to something, usually a person’s society or culture. A relativist might hold, for example, that slavery was morally right in ancient Greece and Rome, because it was accepted there, but wrong in America today. This isn’t subjectivism, because the relativist isn’t saying it’s a matter of arbitrary preference whether slavery is right or wrong: he is saying that slavery is objectively right (or wrong) relative to a particular society. A variant of moral relativism holds that what is morally right is relative to the individual, but even this isn’t subjectivism. The defender isn’t saying that what’s right is nothing more than persons’ subjective preferences. Rather, he is saying that it is objectively the case that what is right for each person is what he prefers.
In this way of understanding relativism, Mises was not a moral relativist. He thought that social cooperation through the free market resulted in peace and prosperity, regardless of whether people or societies accepted this or not.
With that in mind, the relevance of Mises’s rejection of polylogism for understanding the threat posed by CRT lies in his defense of universal principles of human action. As Gordon observes,
His primary objective is always to defend the free market against any doctrine that can be used to attack it. For example, he criticizes the logical positivists, because their view of meaning would undermine praxeology, and for the same reason he rejects various forms of what he calls “polylogism.”
It is on that basis that Misesians defend the philosophical principles that underpin free markets and all forms of human liberty from CRT’s attacks. By embracing racial polylogism, CRT rejects the very foundations of the liberty we defend.
Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.