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Clarification Needed: Left-Libertarian Economics

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Angurse posted on Wed, Jan 19 2011 11:42 AM

Since its been brought up multiple times lately, could someone kindly explain how a left-libertarian and/or mutualist economy would have more entrepreneurship? I'd prefer articles by economists, but I'd take anything at this point.

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I want to know about this too...

My Blog: http://www.anarchico.net/

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I'm pretty sure Scott F said he was not a mutualist.

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filc replied on Wed, Jan 19 2011 2:39 PM

resist272727:
I'm pretty sure Scott F said he was not a mutualist.

The OP also said left-libs, which ScottF stated he was.

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I'm pretty sure Scott F said he was not a mutualist.

Well, there is another who did claim to be a mutualist, however this isn't necessarily for them. Anyone who can direct me towards economic work on either would be appreciated. I really haven't found anything.

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I would wonder how it could be about anything else other than economics.  What the hell could legal theory state?  And let's face it trying to philosophize ones way around issues comes off as rather silly most of the time, or perhaps just flat out question ducking or deconstruction.

"I am not an ego along with other egos, but the sole ego: I am unique. Hence my wants too are unique, and my deeds; in short, everything about me is unique" Max Stirner
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I would wonder how it could be about anything else other than economics.  What the hell could legal theory state?  And let's face it trying to philosophize ones way around issues comes off as rather silly most of the time, or perhaps just flat out question ducking or deconstruction.

Right, chatting about morality and ethics may be fun, but it doesn't replace science.
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The term "anarcho-capitalism" is sort of a double-whammy when it comes to negative connotations.  In the eyes of many, it's chaos coupled with greed.  "Left-libertarian" is probably just a way of say "I'm for freedom, but I'm also a humanitarian (good guy.)  Similar to white guilt in that it apologizes for other people's unwarranted biases.  I think most libertarians are humanitarians, but some may feel a need to reassure others that they aren't just self-centered establishment-haters.

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 i found this stuff...

http://www.mutualist.org/id20.html

and here is Carson's famous book

http://www.mutualist.org/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/MPE.pdf

I was thinking about reading it and critiquing it but thats a lot of reading to do for an ideology that i do not take too seriously.

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The term "anarcho-capitalism" is sort of a double-whammy when it comes to negative connotations.  In the eyes of many, it's chaos coupled with greed.  "Left-libertarian" is probably just a way of say "I'm for freedom, but I'm also a humanitarian (good guy.)  Similar to white guilt in that it apologizes for other people's unwarranted biases.  I think most libertarians are humanitarians, but some may feel a need to reassure others that they aren't just self-centered establishment-haters.

If that is the case, and I don't think it is; the very heart of the study of economics is social co-operation and the benefits it brings, and what can and can not be said about it. 

"I am not an ego along with other egos, but the sole ego: I am unique. Hence my wants too are unique, and my deeds; in short, everything about me is unique" Max Stirner
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It's not a matter of the study of economics, it's a matter of societal perception.  As Mises said, "people would like to find in an economics book knowledge that perfectly fits into their preconceived image of what economics ought to be."  The biggest criticism of capitalism I hear is that it promotes "greed" and that you have to be "cutthroat" to get by.  And anarchism is usually dismissed as being a system of chaos.  So anarcho-capitalists may choose some other word to describe their ideology that bring more positive connotations.  That's mostly what I think the "left-libertarian" strand of market anarchism is.

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Thanks "Izzy" I've read Carson's book and its more philosophy/ideology-libertarianism/rights and not so much economics. Most of the economic remarks are Austrian, but little can be found about how a mutualist economy will foster entrepreneurship and whatnot.

From your first link I got: What is Mutualist Economic Theory?

Which was the same old thing about monopolies and state privileges.

 
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after lookng a little more into the site, i found this book http://www.mutualist.org/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/otkc11.pdf , looking at the table of contents, it looks to be more economical.... but it is a long book, i cant find a good article showing their view on econoimcs

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William replied on Wed, Jan 19 2011 11:15 PM

Thanks "Izzy" I've read Carson's book and its more philosophy/ideology-libertarianism/rights and not so much economics

I will almost second that sentiment, except I simply do not consider ethics actual philosophy worth noting when trying to speaking in productive inter-subjective dialogue.   We have to base any initial discussion about consequentialism and a look at basic civilization as a given for desirable dilagoue, and I'm not seeing that in an obvious manner from left libs.

I think it may also be important to get a de facto denunciation of any sort of ethical/ aesthetic universalism (in the Misean sense of the word)/ "socialistic end" from any left lib.  If the can't do it, there is simply not much to discuss.

"I am not an ego along with other egos, but the sole ego: I am unique. Hence my wants too are unique, and my deeds; in short, everything about me is unique" Max Stirner
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