Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10 6/7/83; site hao.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!hao!ward
From: ward@hao.UUCP (Mike Ward)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: What is a libertarian? - (nf)
Message-ID: <1115@hao.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 21-Aug-84 11:55:29 EDT
Article-I.D.: hao.1115
Posted: Tue Aug 21 11:55:29 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 22-Aug-84 06:01:00 EDT
References: <1716@inmet.UUCP>
Organization: High Altitude Obs./NCAR, Boulder CO
Lines: 48

[]
A response to an article I posted leads me to post a clarification
of my position, and of my question.

First, may I say that I am attracted to many of the notions of
the Libertarians.  There are a few problems I have with the philosophy,
and a few questions I have about what people who call themselves
Libertarians believe.

All the statements I make and questions I ask are meant to be
made in good faith, and, I think, hardly deserving of hostile,
emotional attacks.  Especially if the attackers don't even have
the courage or the courtesy to sign their articles.

I posted:

>
>So to Libertarians I ask this: assume, for the sake of argument, without
>judgment on its real-world validity, the following statement.  
>"The adaption of Libertarianism will inevitably lead to the loss of liberty
>for the majority of people."  Would this make Libertarianism invalid?

"Somebody" replied:
>>
>>An uninteresting question -- I assume you meant "adoption", not "adaption".
>>The question is uninteresting because it proceeds from a proposition
>>you're practically admitting is "false" in the view of libertarians.
>>To put it another way:
>>"Suppose all your suppositions are wrong.  Does this invalidate your ideas?"
>>
I did not admit, or even almost admit, that the proposition was
false.  My purpose in stating it the way I did was to determine
if the proposition was worth discussing.  That is, if Libertarians
feel that *their* liberties were important, to the exclusion
of all others, then I need not waste time arguing about the loss
of liberty of most people.  On the other hand, if the *general*
increase in liberty was a goal of Libertarianism, then arguments
about how this should be brought about are important, indeed.

This discussion has so far been held on a mature, rational level.
I would hate to see it degenerate as have so many before it.

-- 
Michael Ward, NCAR/SCD
UUCP: {hplabs,nbires,brl-bmd,seismo,menlo70,stcvax}!hao!sa!ward
ARPA: hplabs!hao!sa!ward@Berkeley
BELL: 303-497-1252
USPS: POB 3000, Boulder, CO  80307