Furthermore, the libertarian's egocentric perspective fails because political and economic problems are not problems of individuals, they are problems of groups (i.e., of "all"), and therefore the interests of all affected individuals must be taken into account. The liberal proposes that these interests are best "taken into account," fairly and equally, from the perspective of a hypothetical individual who is unbiased and benevolent – seeking the best result for all while respecting the inalienable rights of each.
In fact, no such neutral observer is actually necessary, for each moral agent, and the agent's surrogate, the government, is quite capable of adopting the point of view of the hypothetical "unbiased benevolent observer." Indeed, we did just that as we found solutions to the aforementioned problems, the use of anti-biotics and traffic control, whereby constraints upon each resulted in benefits to all. There we found that the astute moral agent would, as a "the unbiased benevolent observer," perceive that all would benefit from antibiotics if these drugs were not prescribed for inconsequential ailments, and the same observer would conclude that the freedom of vehicular movement for all is enhance by imposing constraining rules upon each.
The perspective of the "unbiased neutral observer" has a name – in fact, numerous names, since it is one of the most familiar concepts in the history of political theory and moral philosophy: "the impartial spectator" (Adam Smith), "the ideal observer" (John Stuart Mill), "the general will" (Rousseau), "the view from nowhere" (Thomas Nagel), "the original position" (John Rawls), and my personal favorite, "the moral point of view" (Kurt Baier, Kai Nielsen and many more).
And who or what is most appropriately entitled to adopt the perspective of the "unbiased, benevolent observer?" What else than an agency selected and acting by the consent of the people, an agency that enacts and administers laws to the benefit of all, an agency constituted to "establish Justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty."
That agency has a name: "democratic government." And in case you didn't notice, the above quotation is from the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States.
The Menace of Libertarianism. Libertarianism appears, at last, to be succumbing to the consequences of its own "success." We are discovering at last that this stark and simple theory cannot accommodate itself to social and political realities. For there is, in fact, such a thing as a "society," and there is a "public interest." Social problems are not solved, and social justice is not obtained, through the egocentric point of view -- the pursuit of self-interest by each individual in a mythical "free market." Instead, as we have seen and as the liberal insists, the public interest is best perceived through the "moral point of view" – the perspective of the unbiased benevolent observer" of society.
Libertarianism, a fascinating intellectual diversion and challenge in the sixties, has become a menace in this new century. The denial of the very existence of society and the public interest is an invitation to chaos, which must result in the unraveling of civilization and the just society, and in its place a government of, by, and for the privileged, the powerful, and the wealthy.
Proving libertarianism wrong and immoral is not difficult. However, removing the libertarians from power and repairing the damage that they have caused, will be horrendously difficult.
And there is no guarantee that these efforts will succeed.
A Postscript: Due to space constraints, I have been obliged to make several bold claims without supporting arguments. However, I have defended most of these claims at length elsewhere, in works that I have linked in this essay. There the reader will also find citations for the quotations in this essay. EP.
Dr. Ernest Partridge is a consultant, writer and lecturer in the field of Environmental Ethics and Public Policy. Partridge has taught philosophy at the University of California, and in Utah, Colorado and Wisconsin. He publishes the website, "The Online Gadfly" (www.igc.org/gadfly) and co-edits the progressive website, "The Crisis Papers" (www.crisispapers.org). His book in progress, "Conscience of a Progressive," can be seen at www.igc.org/gadfly/progressive/^toc.htm .
"Next Ayn Rand: "There is no such entity as 'the public,' since the public is merely a number of individuals." Finally, Frank Chodorov: "Society is a collective concept and nothing else; it is a convenience for designating a number of people." "
This is the sorites paradox The Sorites paradox (σωρός (sōros) being Greek for "heap" and σωρίτης (sōritēs) the adjective) is a paradox that arises from vague predicates. The paradox of the heap is an example of this paradox which arises when one considers a heap of sand, from which grains are individually removed. Is it still a "heap" when only one grain remains?
The problem is essentially one of philosophy of language, wherein terms may be relative and indefined, as opposed to problems in mathematics - wherein all terms by nature have some definition - even if it is only as a variable. The paradox is a normal aspect of any attempt to insert imprecise terms into mathematical-like logical formula, or likewise to apply logic to concepts which by definition are imprecise as to be undefinable.
Of course the public exists. For further ideas about this consult Korzybski's General Semantics and levels of abstraction. ( this for example or this , keeping in mind that an individual human is also a level of abstraction which might be reduced to just many individual cells). Also symbolic interactionism here , here , or here sheds some light: our reality is made of percieved meaning, which in turn depends on interactions with the world and with others. Libertarians who deny a public or a social contract exists apparantly have no problem dealing with the "free market place" or the "invisible hand" (and surely one would never think to call the public police if they were burgled...). Libertariansm can get quite silly when carried to such extremes.
by
Blue Pilgrim (0 articles, 3 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 997 comments)
on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 at 2:55:50 PM
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