Other: I think it’s a false dichotomy. I think that an ideal system of government will probably sometimes have to sacrifice libertarian principles in favor of egalitarian ones, and sometimes have to sacrifice egalitarian principles in favor of libertarian ones.
I believe Richard’s point is that e.g. egalitarianism is in fact a system for making these sorts of choices (are people more equal? Yes? Do that!).
And of course the principles that you use define your “actual” system, which is neither egalitarian nor libertarian (which would be “are people more free? Yes? Do that!”)
You’re right. My comment was silly and aggressive. (Of course it did not seem that way when I wrote it.) I seem to have a blind spot when I think I see moral realism.
Other: I think it’s a false dichotomy. I think that an ideal system of government will probably sometimes have to sacrifice libertarian principles in favor of egalitarian ones, and sometimes have to sacrifice egalitarian principles in favor of libertarian ones.
What principles will it use in making such choices?
How happy, safe, productive, etc. people are. I don’t see either libertarianism or egalitarianism as terminal values.
I believe Richard’s point is that e.g. egalitarianism is in fact a system for making these sorts of choices (are people more equal? Yes? Do that!).
And of course the principles that you use define your “actual” system, which is neither egalitarian nor libertarian (which would be “are people more free? Yes? Do that!”)
Ideal by what metric? Unless you’re a moral realist, there probably isn’t such a thing.
Ideal in terms of fulfilling my terminal values, which contain a term for the satisfaction of others.
You’re right. My comment was silly and aggressive. (Of course it did not seem that way when I wrote it.) I seem to have a blind spot when I think I see moral realism.
My apologies.