Difference between revisions of "What Is Libertarianism?"

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== An Unusual Preference for Certain Liberties ==
 
== An Unusual Preference for Certain Liberties ==
 
Some libertarians simply value some forms of personal liberty more than other people consider reasonable. Essentially all the rest of their argument is post hoc excuses that conceal the simple difference in prefrences.  Their post hoc arguments tend to be based on (a) natural rights, (b) ridiculous formulas like "coercion is bad", (c) assertions about qualitative benefits that overlook other obvious factors or (d) [[denialism]].
 
Some libertarians simply value some forms of personal liberty more than other people consider reasonable. Essentially all the rest of their argument is post hoc excuses that conceal the simple difference in prefrences.  Their post hoc arguments tend to be based on (a) natural rights, (b) ridiculous formulas like "coercion is bad", (c) assertions about qualitative benefits that overlook other obvious factors or (d) [[denialism]].
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== A Denial of Traditional Values and Institutions ==
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Many libertarians reject patriotism, democracy, politics, religion, charity and other traditional values and institutions in their attempt to view the whole world through economics.  While many traditional values and institutions may deserve a good kicking, preferring "greed is good" economic views and ignoring the harms of dismantling major institutions is repulsive.  Examples include the Friedman and Hayek attitudes towards Pinochet's Chile.<ref>[http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Zeroes/Milton_Friedman.html Milton Friedman]</ref><ref>[http://johnquiggin.com/index.php/archives/2006/11/23/friedman-and-hayek/ Friedman and Hayek]</ref>
  
 
== A Catspaw For Corporations ==
 
== A Catspaw For Corporations ==

Revision as of 00:58, 11 October 2010