Saturday, July 15, 2006
QUO VADIS?
In recent years, I’ve been subject to some fair criticism from people who claim that since 911 I have abandoned the libertarian and minarchist political philosophy I espoused in the 1990s. It’s true, I have significantly modified my views. I have not abandoned my ideals of minimal government and maximal individual liberty. What has happened is that I have realized that implementing those ideals broadly and deeply requires a substrate of shared cultural values that doesn’t exist in the world. In fact, just the opposite is true: Significant portions of the human race hold cultural values that are antithetical to human liberty. I would very much like for there to be something other than state power with which to protect liberty from those who would destroy it. But when the gulf is wide enough, I am unable to find any substitute for the state as a defender of liberal culture.
GB THHotA
posted by Greg 10:42 AM
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