tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6642011.post111275756211444562..comments2023-10-29T10:32:36.914-04:00Comments on Philosophy, et cetera: The Politics of IndividualismRichard Y Chappellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16725218276285291235noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6642011.post-1112922517529964032005-04-07T21:08:00.000-04:002005-04-07T21:08:00.000-04:00Jason, how is it "anti-individual" (in the #1 sens...Jason, how is it "anti-individual" (in the #1 sense of individualism) to oppose economic freedom? The liberal aim is to empower individuals to live flourishing lives, no matter the unfortunate circumstances they are born into. Now, you clearly believe that economic redistribution is not the way to achieve this -- that the free market would yield greater "mutual benefit" -- but in that case the very worst you can say is that liberals are simply <I>practically mistaken</I> about how best to achieve their (undeniably admirable) ends.<BR/><BR/>By contrast, your re-written (1a) is still not so admirable. It still only recognises the worth of other individuals insofar as they can be used to the benefit of the egoist. Co-operation is good because it's good for you. The benefit to others is irrelevant, or at best instrumental to the later benefits they might bestow upon you in turn. But why not treat other people as having <I>intrinsic</I> worth, i.e. value in themselves? Why not recognise that <I>their</I> welfare matters too? Surely this position is much more consistent with the spirit of #1-type 'individualism'.Richard Y Chappellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16725218276285291235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6642011.post-1112760154561334332005-04-06T00:02:00.000-04:002005-04-06T00:02:00.000-04:00Oh sorry. .. I should have been precise and said t...Oh sorry. .. I should have been precise and said that the alternative scheme is not about "redistribution" but about ensuring the rewards a fair in the first place. <BR/><BR/>sigh .. ther really is too much to say. <BR/>more regards .. David L.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6642011.post-1112759867770889522005-04-05T23:57:00.000-04:002005-04-05T23:57:00.000-04:00Quote ... individualism precludes economic redistr...Quote ... individualism precludes economic redistribution.<BR/>You say this claim is misguided .. and I agree. <BR/>And I have to comment that there is a large theory of economic justice (first formalized i think by American Henry George) that explains precisely how a large proportion of inequality is not due to the different efforts of the individual, but to a 'system' which allows those who succeed to increase their reward increasingly out of proportion to their effort. <BR/>Unfortunately by a process which reduces potential rewards for others -- by monopoly effects of ownership of land .<BR/>Ideally, Henry George's alternative would achieve maximum enterprise but WITH equality.<BR/>Which is too complicated to go into here I suppose. <BR/> And it is pretty certain that his scheme is never going to happen as it cuts right across certain ideas. <BR/><BR/>But it was certainly educational to learn about it.<BR/> regards David L.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com