期刊名称：Reason Papers : A Journal of Interdisciplinary Normative Studies
印刷版ISSN：0363-1893
出版年度：2007
卷号：29
页码：151-63
出版社：Reason Papers
摘要：It is one thing to make temporary strategic alliances with the forcesof either left or right. This may properly be done for several reasons. Onereason is to try to convert them to the one true faith. In doing so we say to theleftist: You favor freedom for pot smoking, so how about gold owning. Both,not just the one freedom you favor in this case, can be derived from the"humanistic" principles you ostensibly, but not consistently enough, favor.Similarly, we say to the denizens of the right: You oppose governmentrestrictions such as the minimum wage and rent control, so how aboutapplying the very same philosophical principles which lead you to theseconclusions to freedom for homosexuals to engage in consensual adultbehavior on the very private property to which you pay lip service.Similarly, it is entirely appropriate, and fully consistent withlibertarianism, to make temporary alliances with left- or right-wingers in orderto promote a common interest. Libertarians, for example, may supportsocialists in their anti-war efforts, or conservatives in their promotion offreedom of association and opposition to enforced affirmative action orcoercive unionism. But whatever our purposes in these transitory associations,as libertarians we must always maintain our own identity. Otherwise, all thatis unique and vital in this philosophy will be lost. And this would be atragedy of gigantic proportions, in that this political-economic perspective isthat last best hope for mankind, and for his very survival.In this essay I shall argue for "plumb-line" or pure libertarianism,and take to task a libertarian author who sees some intrinsic connectionbetween libertarianism and conservatism. I contend, in contrast, that whilethere may well be a case for temporary alliances with those on the right, it isfalse and misleading to characterize libertarianism as any more closely relatedto the right than to the left.
