4 ms·

> what do members of a society owe to one another? > we should consider whether we would be content to live the lives that the least fortunate in our society a

> what do members of a society owe to one another? > we should consider whether we would be content to live the lives that the least fortunate in our society actually live Stopped reading right there, because it's a complete non sequitur. People only owe one another what they have contractual obligations for; claiming that you owe to provide any kind of minimal standard of living for another person just because he also happens to live in the same society as you is completely absurd and deeply immoral. Now, I agree that being charitable and thinking about others is moral, and that people who enjoy very comfortable lives without giving anything back to the community can be frowned upon. However, there is critically important distinction between doing something out of your own free will and our of obligation. I always defend Nazis, who openly advocate for killing me and my family, right to free speech, and I would always defend the property rights of the heartless and greedy. Not because I want to condone this behaviour, but because no morality can be more important than personal freedoms.

Red_Leaves_Flyy 6y ago
There's a social contract among communities that has all but entirely collapsed. It's not about being charitable. It's the fact that when we collectively let our neighbors suffer instead of helping we are opening the flood gates to greater suffering for everyone. This is a good read: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/elal2/have_you_ever_picked_up_a_hitchhiker/c18z0z2 https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/elal2/have_you_e...
jmpman 6y ago
Although I expect I share many of your concerns, there are two aspects of ideal libertarian world view which trouble me. The first is that the masses who are unable to provide a productive life for themselves continue to multiply, ultimately driving society to collapse. The second is that wealth will be concentrated in a tiny fraction of the population, who will then convince the masses that it’s unethical for the elite to be taxed. The elites will continue to perpetuate their wealth through generations, and the masses will never be able to achieve socioeconomic mobility.

Red_Leaves_Flyy 6y ago

There's a social contract among communities that has all but entirely collapsed. It's not about being charitable. It's the fact that when we collectively let our neighbors suffer instead of helping we are opening the flood gates to greater suffering for everyone. This is a good read: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/elal2/have_you_ever_picked_up_a_hitchhiker/c18z0z2 https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/elal2/have_you_e...

jmpman 6y ago

Although I expect I share many of your concerns, there are two aspects of ideal libertarian world view which trouble me. The first is that the masses who are unable to provide a productive life for themselves continue to multiply, ultimately driving society to collapse. The second is that wealth will be concentrated in a tiny fraction of the population, who will then convince the masses that it’s unethical for the elite to be taxed. The elites will continue to perpetuate their wealth through generations, and the masses will never be able to achieve socioeconomic mobility.