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