(no subject)

[garran]

My impression has long been that Libertarianism, as a political philosophy, is based on principles of ethical egoism (of which Ayn Rand was the most famous proponent). Is this true? Can you be a libertarian without being an ethical egoist?

Comments

[haibane-rachan.livejournal.com]

Explain to me what an "ethical egoist" is and I might attempt to answer you.

[garran.livejournal.com]

Briefly (and sloppily): ethical egoism is a moral philosophy which argues that it is the duty of each person to behave entirely according to their own self-interest. Altruism is regarded variously as (at best) bizarre and ineffective, or (at worst) an appalling societal disease.


-Garran

[mordath.livejournal.com]

Is this true? Can you be a libertarian without being an ethical egoist?

Easily, in my mind. The two are connected, and share many of the same facets, but aren't by any means the same thing.

I'd go more in depth, but I'm twitching from the memory of the 80 page soapbox sermons of death.

I say "Yep"

[(Anonymous)]

Have a look at this:

http://www.theadvocates.org/library/gentle-hand.html
&
http://www.self-gov.org/means.html

[garran.livejournal.com]

Thank you, cloaked stranger!


-Garran