The best definition of libertarianism

Adolescent rebellion in nominal grown-ups is called libertarianism.
—Rick Darby, Reflecting Light, June 11, 2008

Darby continues:

[L]ibertarians start with a healthy skepticism about government and twist it into a loathing of all external limitations on being as whatever as you wanna be. You don’t know it yet, but human freedom died a couple of centuries ago when the government started carrying the mail.

Darby then recounts an article by libertarian Jim Fedako telling about a family trip, and how Fedako sees every issue through a libertarian filter.

- end of initial entry -

Steven Warshawsky writes:

Contrary to Rick Darby of Reflecting Light, I much prefer people who are overly zealous in their defense of individual liberty, even if they are seriously mistaken on certain issues (e.g., immigration, polygamy), than those who believe that “the government” is both responsible for and capable of solving the major (and minor) problems confronting society. Sure, it is easy to make fun of silly libertarians, of whom there are many (especially with respect to “social” issues, on which they are largely indistinguishable from left-liberals). But the greatest danger to this country lies, not in the marketplace, but in the increasing size and authority of government, especially the federal government. Our nation rose to greatness in a political and economic environment that was radically freer, less regulated, more decentralized—and much more self-reliant, confident, and courageous—than the one we find ourselves in today. Not to mention the one that both major political parties appear intent on imposing on us tomorrow. Libertarians, for all their faults, have a useful role to play in opposing the dominant liberal/leftist agenda—which would not be nearly so influential without the support of big government.

Steve D. writes:

Since childhood, I have considered myself a libertarian. I still consider myself a libertarian, but candor would force me to admit the accuracy of Rick Darby’s characterization of libertarians as adolescents who never grew out of the rebellious stage. On several occasions, I have attempted to involve myself more actively in libertarian politics, only to be discouraged by the bickering immaturity of the people involved. The biggest reason the libertarian movement has been unable to achieve success in a country with such a strong tradition of individualism and personal freedom has been that most people, once they become acquainted with actual libertarians, want nothing more than to get away from them.

Except for this: Darby characterizes not the behavior of most libertarians, but libertarianism itself—libertarianism as a political philosophy. And modern libertarianism is not based on something as simple (and innocuous) as atavistic adolescent behavior; such reductionism makes the same mistake as, for instance, when “Spengler” attributes the Christianization of Europe to fear of racial extinction rather than sincere conviction of the truth of Christianity.

Classical liberalism is based upon the premise that all human beings have inherent rights, including life, liberty, and property. Those are the founding principles of our own government. Starting from that premise, modern libertarianism attempts to construct a single, coherent philosophy of politics, one that can find a solution to each particular dilemma, as it arises. It is a complex and elegant synthesis that has largely succeeded on an intellectual level, but failed on a practical level as dismally as Marxism. The question that begs to be answered is, why should this be so?

My own belief is that libertarians begin with a defective definition of “rights.” When a libertarian uses the word, he generally uses it as a synonym for “freedoms.” But I believe that “rights” are complex concepts consisting of two parts: freedom, and responsibility. In the case of any right, a person enjoys the freedom of action entailed by that right. He also is saddled with sole responsibility for any outcome. Libertarianism almost entirely ignores the latter.

The standard libertarian answer to my objection would be that a person has freedom to act only to the point where he violates another’s rights, and that no persons—acting alone or together, as society or government—has the right to restrain personal freedom in the absence of such a violation. My answer is that such pure libertarianism is suitable only for heaven. On Earth, people abandon their families; they fall into degrading lifestyles (homosexuality, drug use); they espouse hateful and violent philosophies that ensnare the less discerning; they lie, they cheat, they snub their neighbors. They treat the natural world with contempt. The current libertarian mainstream potentially excuses all of these activities, because it ignores our fundamental responsibility to behave as moral beings. It is an amoral philosophy that has no more explanatory power when it comes to moral behavior, than does science when it comes to theology. It regards human beings as social atoms, interacting according to a set of laws, rather than as living souls with a moral stake in every life we touch.

Why, then, do I still consider myself a libertarian? For the simple reason that libertarianism is in no danger of actually winning. The movement must first be purged of its irreligious, libertine faction before it is worthy of being trusted with political power. Libertarianism is supposed to be a direct lineal descendant of the philosophy of the Founding; yet many nowadays forget that John Adams said our government was “designed only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for any other.” Unless we reform society, libertarianism as a ruling principle may do more harm than good; and until libertarians as a whole understand this, they are doomed to continual and utter failure, whether they win or lose politically. I am not willing to give up yet on a movement that espouses such a great deal of political freedom … but who knows—they may yet convince me to do so.

Posted by Lawrence Auster at June 17, 2008 02:15 AM | Send