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From: eyal@wisdom.BITNET
Newsgroups: mod.politics
Subject: Re: Objectivism vs Libertarianism
Message-ID: <12243702595.49.MCGREW@RED.RUTGERS.EDU>
Date: Thu, 2-Oct-86 20:27:05 EDT
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Posted: Thu Oct  2 20:27:05 1986
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>[Peter Schwartz] obviously
>influenced a lot of Objectivists.

That depends on what you mean by "influenced". Objectivists have
always opposed Libertarianism. Schwartz's contribution was to
systematically state the arguments for this opposition, and to help
many young Objectivists in precisely indentifying the reasons of what
was, for some, just an uncomfortable feeling.

>I plan to try to write a
>lengthy point-by-point refutation of that pamphlet,

Well, I wish you luck, but, as you can probably guess from my
recommendation of the pamphlet, I have grave doubts whether you can do
it. Peter Schwartz thoroughly understands Libertarianism, was able to
analyse it right down to its philosophical essence, and he's built a
watertight case.

>I intend to track down the contexts
>of all of his quotations from Libertarians. Some of them are
>so anti-Libertarian that I feel it necessary to see for myself
>that they aren't being pulled totally out of context.

I must admit that I also found some of these quotes hard to believe.
But I've checked all the quotes he gives from books, and some of the
quotes from "Reason", "Inquiry" and "Frontlines", and I found them all
to be completely accurate and in context. I didn't have an opportunity
to check the quotes from party platforms, though.

Those quotes are certainly anti-liberty. But Schwartz succeeds very
well in demonstrating that those who believe Libertarianism supports
liberty, and therefore think the quotes are "anti-Libertarian", are
the ones who don't understand Libertarianism.

>Anyway, if anyone knows of any writings that have already
>done such a refutation (I assume it would be by a Libertarian),
>please let me know!

About a year ago (this was after Schwartz published the beginning of
his pamphlet, but before he finished it) I heard a rumor that George
O.  Smith - who is the author of "Atheism: the Case Against God", and
who is quite active in the libertarian movement - has announced that
he's planning to write a rebuttal. I've no idea how accurate that
rumor was, or, if that rebuttal was written, how to get it; I'd very
much like to see it, so, if you find out, please let me know.

        Eyal Mozes

        BITNET:                         eyal@wisdom
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