March, 2007

Principles, the Welfare State, and Libertarian Cultural Traditions

by Virginia Postrel
The Conversation
March 28th, 2007

Like Tom Palmer, I am “not a pure instrumentalist. I think that being free is a constituent part of a happy life, which is something desirable for its own sake and not for the sake of something else.” Unlike Tom, I’m not a philosopher, so perhaps my language suggested baggage I did not mean to [...]

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Quick Hits

by Tyler Cowen
The Conversation
March 27th, 2007

Many issues have been raised, let me offer a few comments: 1. In response to Tom, I am a pluralist and I also value (libertarian) freedom for its own sake. But in most settings I value “positive freedom,” or capabilities, a good deal more. Positive freedom or positive liberty are common philosophical concepts, and I [...]

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