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What Libertarians Get Wrong About Human Nature
Libertarianism has long been the bold, vigorous cousin of conservatism. Defined by a zealous individualism, libertarianism’s philosophy of “live and let live” has appealed to many. It isn’t hard to see its attraction. After all, the libertarian creed offers a tidy solution to the question of what one’s thinks is acceptable or not in the realm of society — if it doesn’t pertain to you as an individual, then your opinion is wonderfully irrelevant. It’s a tight, crystalline philosophy that elevates liberty, embraces the individual, and directs skepticism towards the state.
Let me be clear: The essential precepts of libertarianism such as free markets, limited government, voluntary association, non-interventionism, personal responsibility, and the like are enormously exemplary ideas. These principles are cherished because they have a good track record of producing not only economic prosperity for the society but also dignity for the individual.
Nevertheless, some aspects of its ideological purity make it unworkable as a realistic (or even desired) model of governance. Its unwavering religion of individualism can commit the error of brushing aside the social institutions necessary for a thriving society. Its calculation of liberty as the mere absence of government can neglect to consider the legitimate role it (government) actually has in…
