libertarianism and skeptics of authority

Question 1

libertarianism

Answer 1

• This is a minimal/no government philosophy. Commonly said that government should only protect individuals’ negative rights.
• Some policy positions:
  Oppose paternalistic laws, moralistic laws, wealth redistribution, most regulations, gun control, immigration restrictions, etc.

Question 1

libertarianism

Answer 1

• This is a minimal/no government philosophy. Commonly said that government should only protect individuals’ negative rights.
• Some policy positions:
  Oppose paternalistic laws, moralistic laws, wealth redistribution, most regulations, gun control, immigration restrictions, etc.

Question 2

three principles of libertarianism

Answer 2

presumption against coercion, coercive nature of the government, and skepticism about authority

Question 3

presumption against coercion

Answer 3

One shouldn’t rob, kidnap, or threaten people with violence without a very good reason.

Question 4

coercive nature of the government

Answer 4

govt commands are enforced by threat of violence

Question 5

skepticism about authority

Answer 5

the government doesn’t have any special moral status. What is wrong for anyone else to do is also wrong for the government to do.

Question 6

legal paternalism

Answer 6

• Government restricts people for their own good. Ex.: Drug laws.
• This would be wrong for any private party.
• No authority, also wrong for state.

Question 7

legal moralism

Answer 7

• Government prohibits “immoral” but victimless activities. Ex.: prostitution, drugs, gambling
• Would also be wrong for any private party.

Question 8

social welfare programs

Answer 8

• Government takes people’s money to give to the poor, the old, etc.
• Would be wrong for private party (private party forcibly collects money for charity). Charity
  Mugging ex.
• Other problems:
• Social welfare programs may be harmful.
• They aid relatively well-off people, not the neediest (the global poor).

Question 9

rent seeking

Answer 9

• Gov’t makes policies to serve special interest groups. Ex.: subsidies
• Analogous to: theft

Question 10

immigration restrictions

Answer 10

• Gov’t prohibits people from entering broad geographical area
• Analogous to: forcibly stopping a person from trading with third parties. Starving Marvin example.

Question 11

what can the government do

Answer 11

⋅ Protect individuals from thieves, murderers, etc. - Why: This would be ok for any private party.
⋅ National defense.
⋅ Taxation? Only if there is no available voluntary means of financing.
- Can violate rights to prevent disaster. Ex.: lifeboat

Question 12

implications for state agents

Answer 12

⋅ Police: should not enforce unjust laws
⋅ Prosecutors: should not prosecute
⋅ Judges: should assign no punishment, or minimum possible.
- In some cases, should violate sentencing laws (e.g., mandatory minimums).

Question 13

implications for private citizens

Answer 13

⋅ Civil disobedience is very often justified. If the law is wrong, and you can get away with breaking it, without hurting anyone else, you should do so.
⋅ Government agents should refuse to enforce unjust laws.
⋅ Jury nullification is very often justified.

Question 14

gaybashing gang example

Answer 14

Gang asks if your friend (whom you know to be gay) is gay, so they can beat him up if he is. You should obviously say “no”.

conclusion is that It’s wrong to cause someone else to commit a serious injustice. It’s right to lie to a person to prevent them from committing an injustice. Similar to state asking jury if defendant violated a law.