Geno C. Foral
Bio
Husband of a beautiful wife. Father of a magical daughter. Student of clinical psychology.
Stories (19/0)
Compassion: The Destroyer of Virtue
An ideal is a precondition for a functioning psyche. Do you know where you are? Do you know where you wish to be? If you could get where you wanted, would you prefer it was a second-best destination, or would you like it to be what you want, even if it meant a greater sacrifice? If you decide to aim at something, and if you have a standard by which you hold yourself to get there, you have an ideal.
By Geno C. Foral6 months ago in Humans
American Equality
Does America’s reputation for being a land of opportunity hold up for every people group? While it is apparent that the United States has failed to live up to its stated ideals, the proportion of people allowed to succeed has expanded over time. From the emancipation of slaves in 1863 to the women’s expansion of rights in 1920, or from the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to the allowance of homosexuality in 2003—and further, the sanctioning of homosexual marriage in 2015—the circle of inclusivity has ever widened as time has passed. However, not every group given equality under the law has thrived. Homosexuals have done increasingly well in the last two decades. While they do report a higher level of suicidal attempts when compared to the general population—63.18 per 100,000 and 14.04 per 100,000, respectively—they average a 10% higher rate of income than the general population.
By Geno C. Foral9 months ago in Psyche
A Case Against Equality of Opportunity
Should people strive for equality of opportunity or equality of outcome? Does a good society allow there to be disparities among people? If people fall through the cracks of a community, is it the role of the government to lend a helping hand? These questions are ever present in our political discourse, and there is neither shortage of opinions nor disagreements. However, before we try to answer these questions, we may want to analyze their premises.
By Geno C. Foral10 months ago in Humans
When A Prophet Speaks
When individuals are at liberty to live as autonomous citizens, what responsibilities do they have to engage in society? Do they have moral obligations to their fellow citizens? If so, does this come in conflict with their liberties? When in the Declaration of Independence, our founding fathers stated,
By Geno C. Foral10 months ago in History
The Tension Between Civic Engagement and Individualism
Consistent, reciprocal, and mutually beneficial interactions between individuals create the social fabric that stitches people together in society. This social fabric is a must for societies to function, and individuals should remain attentive to the fact that any benefits they receive that they did not produce come at the cost of someone else. As the adage goes, there's no such thing as a free lunch; someone prepared the meal. Thus, individuals have a responsibility to pay it forward if they wish to continue to be able to glean from the benefits of a generous community.
By Geno C. Foral11 months ago in Humans
Operation, 17
The time was set. Steven had prepared for weeks. It had been three months for Selina—three long months. All was quiet, save for a recurring beep. That was expected. It was there, right in front of him. The entire operation came down to this moment. The precision of a knife's edge was needed—no room to falter.
By Geno C. Foral11 months ago in Fiction
C. S. Lewis and Dostoyevsky’s Morality
Lewis' and Dostoyevsky's Claim C. S. Lewis famously claimed that mankind's instinct for the conception of good—whether through the experience of a guilty conscience or the inclination that something ought to be better—was evidence that there is a God. Over the years, I have spent dozens of hours listening to long forum debates over the existence of God. Along with Lewis' claim, religious believers often posited Dostoyevsky's maxim, "If there's no God, all is permitted."
By Geno C. Foral12 months ago in Humans
Dostoyevsky's Demons
In his political epic, Demons, Dostoyevsky introduces us to a man named Nikolai Stavrogin. Both mysterious and charming, he allures those around him by his very nature. However, we find that Stavrogin is merely a marionette. He has accepted the role of being the face of a revolution orchestrated by a man named Pyotr Verkhovensky. Stavrogin plays the role of an icon, a necessary ingredient for a revolution. He was the Stalin for the Soviet Union's new dawn, the Adolf for Germany's cleansing, the Trump for America's return to greatness, and the Floyd for BLM and Antifa's social justice looting.
By Geno C. Foral12 months ago in Humans
What is a Woman?
A man cannot have children, produce eggs, or menstruate. Traditionally—mythologically—he is both tyrant and guiding father. He is Order, eternally counterbalanced with the Feminine Chaos. He is not a social construct. He is at the beginning of reproductive biology.
By Geno C. Foralabout a year ago in Filthy
