Difference between revisions of "What Is Libertarianism?"

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[[Category:Descriptions Of Libertarianism|100]]
 
[[Category:Descriptions Of Libertarianism|100]]
{{DES | des = Twenty views of the big picture of libertarianism.}}
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{{DES | des = 24 views of the big picture of libertarianism.}}
 
It's obvious that definitions of libertarianism by opponents are prone to bias.  By the same standard, self-serving definitions by  proponents are also prone to bias.  Because libertarianism is diverse and complex, the simple solution is to present multiple viewpoints, each true to some degree, to construct a picture of the whole.  The story of [[Blind men and an elephant]] illustrates how ridiculous clinging to a single viewpoint can be, and how building a more realistic picture would require critical acceptance of multiple viewpoints.  Viewpoints of proponents of libertarianism are well known; here are some viewpoints of opponents.
 
It's obvious that definitions of libertarianism by opponents are prone to bias.  By the same standard, self-serving definitions by  proponents are also prone to bias.  Because libertarianism is diverse and complex, the simple solution is to present multiple viewpoints, each true to some degree, to construct a picture of the whole.  The story of [[Blind men and an elephant]] illustrates how ridiculous clinging to a single viewpoint can be, and how building a more realistic picture would require critical acceptance of multiple viewpoints.  Viewpoints of proponents of libertarianism are well known; here are some viewpoints of opponents.
 
== A Rhetoric Of Liberty ==
 
== A Rhetoric Of Liberty ==
Libertarianism is united only by a rhetoric of liberty.  "Liberty" is the central [[glittering generality]] of libertarian propaganda.
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Libertarianism is united only by a rhetoric of liberty.  "Liberty" is the central [[Fallacies_Of_Philosophy#Glittering_Generalities_Of_Propaganda|glittering generality]] of libertarian propaganda.
  
 
Who can reject "liberty"?  That makes it a powerful rhetorical tool; as long as you don't start getting specific.  Different people have different ideas of liberty, and can divide over those issues.  The defense against attempts to get specific is "equal liberty", but that rhetoric also begs important questions.  If we all had equal liberty to kill each other, would we want such liberty?
 
Who can reject "liberty"?  That makes it a powerful rhetorical tool; as long as you don't start getting specific.  Different people have different ideas of liberty, and can divide over those issues.  The defense against attempts to get specific is "equal liberty", but that rhetoric also begs important questions.  If we all had equal liberty to kill each other, would we want such liberty?
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== A Polyphyletic Nightmare ==
 
== A Polyphyletic Nightmare ==
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phylogenetics Phylogenetics] is the science of evolutionary descent, a major part of the science of taxonomy.  It can apply to more than just biology: it can apply to anything that evolves, such as philosophical ideas.  [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyphyly Polyphyly] is when a grouping consists of members with multiple ancestral sources, and is considered bad classification.  Adding to the problem is the issue of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reticulate_evolution reticulate evolution]: where separate branches combine to make a network of origin.  This is common in political philosophy.  Libertarianism arises from different branches of many philosophies, and is united only in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homoplasy homoplasy] of a rhetoric of liberty.
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[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phylogenetics Phylogenetics] is the science of evolutionary descent, a major part of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxonomy_(general) science of taxonomy].  It can apply to more than just biology: it can apply to anything that evolves, such as philosophical ideas.  [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyphyly Polyphyly] is when a grouping consists of members with multiple ancestral sources, and is considered bad classification.  Adding to the problem is the issue of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reticulate_evolution reticulate evolution]: where separate branches combine to make a network of origin.  This is common in political philosophy.  Libertarianism arises from different branches of many philosophies, and is united only in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homoplasy homoplasy] of a rhetoric of liberty.
  
 
== A Childish Selfishness ==
 
== A Childish Selfishness ==

Revision as of 19:07, 21 November 2019