30. The Liberal concept of agency is
based on the theory of
possessive individualism
31. Possessive Individualism
1. What makes one human is freedom from dependence on the wills of
others.
2. Freedom from dependence on others means freedom from any
relations with others except those relations which the individual
enters voluntarily with a view to his own interest.
3. The individual is essentially the proprietor of his or her own person
and capacities, for which he or she owes nothing to society.
4. Although an individual cannot alienate the whole of his property in
his own person, he may alienate his capacity to labor.
5. Human society consists of a series of market relations – Since the
individual is human only in so far as free, and free only in so far as
proprietor of him- or herself, human society can only be a series of
relations between sole proprietors, i.e., a series of market relations.
6. Since freedom from the wills of others is what makes one human,
each individual’s freedom can rightfully be limited only by such
obligations and rules as are necessary to secure the same freedom
for others.
7. Political society is a human contrivance for the protection of the
individual’s property in his person and goods, and (therefore) for the
maintenance of orderly relations of exchange between individuals
regarded as proprietors of themselves.
(C. B. Macpherson, The Political Theory of Possessive Individualism)
59. Harm Principle
Every sane adult should be
free to do whatever he or
she wants as long as his
or her actions do not harm,
or threaten to harm,
others.
76. Option #1:
Money can be divided up such that
20% of us will get 82.7% of the
income and property, 20% will get
11.7% of income and property, 20%
will get 2.3% of income, 20% will get
1.9%, and the last 20% will get
1.4%.
77. Option #2:
Divide it up such that everyone
gets an equal share of the wealth
and property, regardless of job or
status. (Each group will get 20%
of income, divided equally).
81. The Original Position
Non-presocial liberal ideas that, if
consensually held, would lead
everyone to accept the equal liberty
and difference principles as the
basis for mutually beneficial social
cooperation.
90. Equal Liberty
Principle
The state must provide the
most extensive system of
equal liberties that is feasible
and desirable. All individuals
must enjoy the greatest
degree of liberty consistent
with the enjoyment of like
liberty by everyone else.
91. Difference Principle
Primary social goods are to
be distributed equally unless
an unequal distribution would
improve the welfare of the
least well-off in society.
101. The many benefits of capitalism
are offset by certain problems:
• Complete market freedom results in
various types of market failures.
• Monopolies which undermine
competition & lead to concentrated
power.
• Business cycles which create
economic inefficiency and insecurity.
102. The many benefits of capitalism
are offset by certain problems:
• Capitalism creates externalities
which harm the broader public.
• Pure Market Systems unable to
provide many public goods.
• Wealth isn’t distributed to everyone.
108. Three ways to deal with
deficits:
• Grow your way out of it – as
incomes rise, taxes rise as people
move up through the tax brackets.
• Increase income taxes on the
wealthy, create luxury taxes, etc.
• Reduce government spending in
specific areas where it is no longer
needed.
113. Principles of Objectivism
1. That reality is what it is, that things are what they
are, independent of anyone's beliefs, feelings,
judgments or opinions -- that existence exists, that A
is A;
2. That reason, the faculty that identifies and
integrates the material provided by the various
senses, is fully competent, in principle, to
understand the facts of reality;
3. That any form of irrationalism, supernaturalism, or
mysticism, any claim to a nonsensory, nonrational
form of knowledge, is to be rejected;
4. That a rational code of ethics is possible and is
derivable from an appropriate assessment of the
nature of human beings as well as the nature of
reality;
114. Principles of Objectivism
1. That reality is what it is, that things are what they
are, independent of anyone's beliefs, feelings,
judgments or opinions -- that existence exists, that A
is A;
2. That reason, the faculty that identifies and
integrates the material provided by the various
senses, is fully competent, in principle, to
understand the facts of reality;
3. That any form of irrationalism, supernaturalism, or
mysticism, any claim to a nonsensory, nonrational
form of knowledge, is to be rejected;
4. That a rational code of ethics is possible and is
derivable from an appropriate assessment of the
nature of human beings as well as the nature of
reality;
115. Principles of Objectivism
1. That reality is what it is, that things are what they
are, independent of anyone's beliefs, feelings,
judgments or opinions -- that existence exists, that A
is A;
2. That reason, the faculty that identifies and
integrates the material provided by the various
senses, is fully competent, in principle, to
understand the facts of reality;
3. That any form of irrationalism, supernaturalism, or
mysticism, any claim to a nonsensory, nonrational
form of knowledge, is to be rejected;
4. That a rational code of ethics is possible and is
derivable from an appropriate assessment of the
nature of human beings as well as the nature of
reality;
116. Principles of Objectivism
1. That reality is what it is, that things are what they
are, independent of anyone's beliefs, feelings,
judgments or opinions -- that existence exists, that A
is A;
2. That reason, the faculty that identifies and
integrates the material provided by the various
senses, is fully competent, in principle, to
understand the facts of reality;
3. That any form of irrationalism, supernaturalism, or
mysticism, any claim to a nonsensory, nonrational
form of knowledge, is to be rejected;
4. That a rational code of ethics is possible and is
derivable from an appropriate assessment of the
nature of human beings as well as the nature of
reality;
117. Principles of Objectivism
5. That the standard of the good is not God or the
alleged needs of society but rather "Man's life,"
that which is objectively required for man's or
woman's life, survival, and well-being;
6. That a human being is an end in him- or herself,
that each one of us has the right to exist for our
own sake, neither sacrificing others to self nor self
to others;
7. That the principles of justice and respect for
individuality autonomy, and personal rights must
replace the principle of sacrifice in human
relationships;
118. Principles of Objectivism
5. That the standard of the good is not God or the
alleged needs of society but rather "Man's life,"
that which is objectively required for man's or
woman's life, survival, and well-being;
6. That a human being is an end in him- or herself,
that each one of us has the right to exist for our
own sake, neither sacrificing others to self nor self
to others;
7. That the principles of justice and respect for
individuality autonomy, and personal rights must
replace the principle of sacrifice in human
relationships;
119. Principles of Objectivism
5. That the standard of the good is not God or the
alleged needs of society but rather "Man's life,"
that which is objectively required for man's or
woman's life, survival, and well-being;
6. That a human being is an end in him- or herself,
that each one of us has the right to exist for our
own sake, neither sacrificing others to self nor self
to others;
7. That the principles of justice and respect for
individuality autonomy, and personal rights must
replace the principle of sacrifice in human
relationships;
120. Principles of Objectivism
8. That no individual -- and no group -- has the moral
right to initiate the use of force against others;
9. That force is permissible only in retaliation and only
against those who have initiated its use;
10.That the organizing principle of a moral society is
respect for individual rights and that the sole
appropriate function of government is to act as
guardian and protector of individual rights.
121. Principles of Objectivism
8. That no individual -- and no group -- has the moral
right to initiate the use of force against others;
9. That force is permissible only in retaliation and only
against those who have initiated its use;
10.That the organizing principle of a moral society is
respect for individual rights and that the sole
appropriate function of government is to act as
guardian and protector of individual rights.
122. Principles of Objectivism
8. That no individual -- and no group -- has the moral
right to initiate the use of force against others;
9. That force is permissible only in retaliation and only
against those who have initiated its use;
10.That the organizing principle of a moral society is
respect for individual rights and that the sole
appropriate function of government is to act as
guardian and protector of individual rights.
131. “The triumph of the West, of the
Western idea, is evident first of
all in the total exhaustion of
viable systematic alternatives to
Western liberalism.”
Francis Fukuyama, The End of History