Difference between revisions of "What Is Libertarianism?"

From Critiques Of Libertarianism
Jump to: navigation, search
(A Rhetoric Of Liberty)
Line 5: Line 5:
 
Libertarianism is united only by a rhetoric of liberty.  "Liberty" is the central glittering generality of libertarian propaganda.
 
Libertarianism is united only by a rhetoric of liberty.  "Liberty" is the central 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.  We all might have equal liberty to kill each other, but do 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?
  
 
"Liberty" unspecified is vague enough to justify any atrocity.  We routinely see libertarians promoting Barry Goldwater's "extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice."  In the name of liberty, John Galt plans genocides dwarfing those of Communist states in "Atlas Shrugged".  In actual history, liberty to own slaves was a frequent claim.  Liberty to head your own family and religious liberty excused beating wives and disobedient children, sometimes fatally.
 
"Liberty" unspecified is vague enough to justify any atrocity.  We routinely see libertarians promoting Barry Goldwater's "extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice."  In the name of liberty, John Galt plans genocides dwarfing those of Communist states in "Atlas Shrugged".  In actual history, liberty to own slaves was a frequent claim.  Liberty to head your own family and religious liberty excused beating wives and disobedient children, sometimes fatally.

Revision as of 12:40, 17 October 2010