Difference between revisions of "What Is Wrong With Libertarianism"

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[[Category:Basics|500]]
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{{Under Construction | [[Category:Basics|500]] }}
 
{{DES | des = Libertarianism is based on bad arguments.  Here's a list of some common problems with libertarian arguments.}}
 
{{DES | des = Libertarianism is based on bad arguments.  Here's a list of some common problems with libertarian arguments.}}
The major problem with libertarianism is its arguments.  However appealing libertarianism might sound, many of the arguments are conspicuously bad.  With further examination, more and more arguments look worse and worse.  This necessitates a huge libertarian [[apologetics]] (defense of their philosophy) which is also fraught with bad argument.
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The major problem with libertarianism is its arguments.  However appealing libertarianism might sound, many of the arguments are conspicuously bad.  With further examination, more and more arguments look worse and worse.  This necessitates a huge libertarian [[apologetics]] (defense of their philosophy), but the apologetics are also fraught with bad argument.
  
 
With sufficient confirmation bias or dishonesty, bad arguments are not a problem for some libertarians.  But identifying bad arguments and why they are bad is a useful skill in the search for better arguments for or against.
 
With sufficient confirmation bias or dishonesty, bad arguments are not a problem for some libertarians.  But identifying bad arguments and why they are bad is a useful skill in the search for better arguments for or against.
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Here is a list of criteria for judging a presentation or argument of libertarianism.  Statements should not fail any of this gauntlet of tests, applied charitably.  Whether you are moving towards or away from libertarianism, this list can be used to improve arguments and understanding.
 
Here is a list of criteria for judging a presentation or argument of libertarianism.  Statements should not fail any of this gauntlet of tests, applied charitably.  Whether you are moving towards or away from libertarianism, this list can be used to improve arguments and understanding.
  
Each of these criteria has an extended article.
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Each of these criteria has an extended article or index.
  
 
{{List | What Is Wrong With Libertarianism}}
 
{{List | What Is Wrong With Libertarianism}}
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* [[Libertarians Misunderstand Freedom]]
 
* [[Libertarians Misunderstand Freedom]]
Libertarians use freedom as a [[glittering generality]] of [[propaganda]].  A freedom consists of an ability to do something without a human or natural obstacle.  Libertarians redefine freedom as being unobstructed by humans.  Either definition of freedom prohibits obstructions by humans.  If a freedom is enforced, it is a right (otherwise it is merely a claim) and the prohibition of human obstruction is an enforced involuntary duty.  Every enforced freedom creates these unfreedoms.  A capability is a freedom where the ability is also a right: there is an enforced involuntary duty to enable in addition to the duty not to obstruct.
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Libertarians use freedom as a [[Fallacies_Of_Philosophy#Glittering_Generalities_Of_Propaganda|glittering generality]] of [[propaganda]].  A freedom consists of an ability to do something without a human or natural obstacle.  Libertarians redefine freedom as being unobstructed by humans.  Either definition of freedom prohibits obstructions by humans.  If a freedom is enforced, it is a right (otherwise it is merely a claim) and the prohibition of human obstruction is an enforced involuntary duty.  Every enforced freedom creates these unfreedoms.  A capability is a freedom where the ability is also a right: there is an enforced involuntary duty to enable in addition to the duty not to obstruct.
  
 
* [[Liberty And Freedom Are Amoral]]
 
* [[Liberty And Freedom Are Amoral]]
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* [[Libertarianism Has Unbalanced Values]]
 
* [[Libertarianism Has Unbalanced Values]]
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We live in the richest societies in history.  We produce so many times more than past societies that we could abolish almost all poverty, as has been done in so many Scandinavian nations.  We are at the point where we can ask what ALL people should have.  All people should have the [[Four Freedoms]].  All people should have education, medical care, food, clothing, housing.  Who should be excepted and why?  Libertarians have no answer here: their obsession with property above all other values produces Procrustean solutions at best.  Libertarians have no ideological guidelines for balancing property with other values, no way to go beyond "I've got mine."
  
 
* [[Libertarianism Is Sold By Propaganda]]
 
* [[Libertarianism Is Sold By Propaganda]]
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* [[Perversion Of Language In Libertarian Argument]]
 
* [[Perversion Of Language In Libertarian Argument]]
Propaganda Terms (including classical liberalism), phatic language, dog-whistle terms, newspeak, libertarian special meanings of terms.
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Propaganda Terms (including classical liberalism), phatic language, [[dog-whistle]] terms, newspeak, libertarian special meanings of terms.
  
 
* [[Vulgar Libertarianism]]
 
* [[Vulgar Libertarianism]]
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* [[Overlooking Corporate Privilege]]
 
* [[Overlooking Corporate Privilege]]
Corporate socialism, corporatism, corporate catspaws, vs. unions, corps as legal individuals, limited liability, Index Of Economic Freedom
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Corporate socialism, crony capitalism, corporate catspaws, vs. unions, corps as legal individuals, limited liability, Index Of Economic Freedom
  
 
* [[Misunderstanding Of Unions]]
 
* [[Misunderstanding Of Unions]]
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http://www.strike-the-root.com/51/weebies/weebies10.html
 
http://www.strike-the-root.com/51/weebies/weebies10.html
 
http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2007/03/20/not-that-kind-of-libertarian-puzzles-of-childrens-rights/
 
http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2007/03/20/not-that-kind-of-libertarian-puzzles-of-childrens-rights/
 
* [[Ayn Rand And Objectivism]]
 
Anybody who thinks Rand is a great author or a great philosopher can be immediately discounted.  She was the [[Horatio Alger]] of her era.
 
 
* [[Gold Standard]]
 
  
 
* [[Libertarians Misunderstand Their Own Political Position]]
 
* [[Libertarians Misunderstand Their Own Political Position]]
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* [[Libertarian Exaggerated Self-Importance]]
 
* [[Libertarian Exaggerated Self-Importance]]
 
Tiny, shrinking minority, claims on economists, claims of rationality, etc.
 
Tiny, shrinking minority, claims on economists, claims of rationality, etc.
 
* [[Libertarian And Objectivism Are Both Stolen Terms]]
 
Libertarianism has been used by philosophers about free will for 200 years.  Libertarian was used by anarchists for roughly 100 years before it was recently co-opted by right-wing American libertarians.  Objectivism was used by Gottlob Frege for his philosophical realism decades before Rand's adoption.  The Objectivist Poets also used the term before Rand did.
 
http://anarchism.pageabode.com/afaq/150-years-of-libertarian
 

Latest revision as of 19:04, 21 November 2019