In February, I applied to–and in March was rejected by–a program at the University of Austin. A question on the application was,

Limit: 250 words. In your opinion, what is the most significant issue in the United States (or, if an international applicant, your home country) today? Why?

The question is worth pondering by every reasonable person. Here was my answer.

The most significant issue in the United States today is epistemology.

Man is the animal possessing reason, our means of producing knowledge. We use this knowledge to produce material necessities such as food, shelter, clothing, and medicine, and spiritual enjoyments such as art and romantic love.

Man is also a social animal, but of a certain kind.

Man advanced from his primitive state when he became selectively social, selective according to rational principles. Instead of sharing the food he produced with everyone in his tribe, he traded his food with individuals who had used their own reasoning to produce something he valued. Instead of equally trusting everyone, he selected his friends wisely. Instead of having his marriage arranged by others, or taking a woman by force, he selected a romantic partner by mutual, reasoned consent.

The principles of social intercourse became individual judgment, rational persuasion, and the rationally selective trading of value for value—that is, individual liberty. The social principle for long-range, rational planning became individual ownership of what each individual produces—that is, the individual right to property.

We are a culture in decline because we are abandoning reason in favor of blind acceptance of authority and blinder indulgence of emotions. Many influential philosophers since Hume and Kant invoke reason primarily to undermine its efficacy.

To save America, we must advance and defend reason in all aspects of life—in research, production, education, personal values, and all forms of intercourse.