Every time I get into a debate with a non-anarchist, it quickly becomes apparent that most people have never talked to an anarchist, an austrian, or a true free market supporter of any kind. They always ask the same questions - first they start out with "what about roads!," and eventually working their way up to "PDAs will just kill people for money" or "firemen will wait outside while your house is burning unless you pay them a million dollars," etc. The worst are the people who argue against the current system we have now in the U.S, as if that were a free market. Its just frustrating to have to go over so many of the basics each time someone enters the discussion. Its not that I blame them - I dont think people are often exposed to anarchic theories unless they go looking for them. But is there some kind of anarcho-capitalist or even libertarian FAQ that would answer a lot the questions that are commonly asked when someone mentions that they dont support government? Preferably something not too in long so that I could have them read it and clear up some of the common misconceptions.
Right before I posted, I found this: http://mises.org/Community/wikis/debate/myths-about-libertarianism.aspx . This is similar to what I was thinking, but I would like something more. Ill post this anyway in case anyone has anything else, thanks.
I too have been looking for a more thourough version of what you linked to. It's getting to the point where I am considering writing one myself. I was going to poll here to find out the top ten misconceptions about the free-market that people encounter and use that as an outline.
Bryan Caplan has an FAQ that is pretty much a response to An Anarchist FAQ (the social anarchist one). Also, Roderick Long's Libertarian Anarchism: Response to Ten Objections is very helpful in this regard.
Market anarchist, Linux geek, aspiring Perl hacker, and student of the neo-Aristotelians, the classical individualist anarchists, and the Austrian school.
Thanks - I am reading Bryan Caplan's now and it looks very informative
wombatron: Bryan Caplan has an FAQ that is pretty much a response to An Anarchist FAQ (the social anarchist one). Also, Roderick Long's Libertarian Anarchism: Response to Ten Objections is very helpful in this regard.
both of these are good, but their intended audience seems to be people who already have libertarian leanings with a few quibbles.
I want to make a guide for libertarians for dealing with pro-statists. How to start, how to plant the seed of doubt, how to show inconsistencies without offending people...etc.
I agree nazgulnarsil. I am new here, but I would love to contribute if possible.
nazgulnarsil: both of these are good, but their intended audience seems to be people who already have libertarian leanings with a few quibbles. I want to make a guide for libertarians for dealing with pro-statists. How to start, how to plant the seed of doubt, how to show inconsistencies without offending people...etc.
That's rather more difficult
In that case, Murphy's Chaos Theory would be a good start.
wombatron: nazgulnarsil: both of these are good, but their intended audience seems to be people who already have libertarian leanings with a few quibbles. I want to make a guide for libertarians for dealing with pro-statists. How to start, how to plant the seed of doubt, how to show inconsistencies without offending people...etc. That's rather more difficult In that case, Murphy's Chaos Theory would be a good start.
So far, Mark Skousen's "Economics On Trial" seems to be both the general economics book I had been looking for (for introductory purposes), and as a good, stealthy primer for an Austrian econ. view without using labels & scaring away possible Statist converts. If I had read this before RP, I most likely would've been here earlier, I think. I'm considering getting it as a present for a friend's upcoming birthday in the hopes of him seeing a different view regarding the current status of the economy.Hopefully, he'll remain interested enough to further delve in (if he is, I am also considering Chaos Theory as a possible additional reading).
"Look at me, I'm quoting another user to show how wrong I think they are, out of arrogance of my own position. Wait, this is my own quote, oh shi-" ~ Nitroadict
BobT: I agree nazgulnarsil. I am new here, but I would love to contribute if possible.
I think the creation of a new Anarcho-Capitalist (if you wish to use that word) would be pretty interesting to do via creating a Blogger account, & creating a group blog so various people can register & post entries which would eventually culminate into a new FAQ.Example: In one month, the topic could be Private Property, and various people post submissions based on furthering the FAQ's section on Private Property. Then, in the sidebar, one can either maintain a master entry that has all finalized drafts of the various entries, or have a link to a separate site where a static copy of the entries (in FAQ form) could be maintained.The group blog would sort of operate like a Working Group for a new An-Cap FAQ. I was thinking about using this approach elsewhere for other possible projects of mine, but I think this approach would greatly help the newbies here & at the chat.
hadn't seen that one. thanks.
Nitroadict: I think the creation of a new Anarcho-Capitalist (if you wish to use that word) would be pretty interesting to do via creating a Blogger account, & creating a group blog so various people can register & post entries which would eventually culminate into a new FAQ.
I think the creation of a new Anarcho-Capitalist (if you wish to use that word) would be pretty interesting to do via creating a Blogger account, & creating a group blog so various people can register & post entries which would eventually culminate into a new FAQ.
Sounds like a great idea. Is there a more accurate term?
BobT: Nitroadict: I think the creation of a new Anarcho-Capitalist (if you wish to use that word) would be pretty interesting to do via creating a Blogger account, & creating a group blog so various people can register & post entries which would eventually culminate into a new FAQ. Sounds like a great idea. Is there a more accurate term?
Well, yes & no. There has been recent discussion elsewhere in the forum on whether or not anarcho-capitalism is an accurate term to use to describe what may also be described as "multiarchy" (which could inevitably lead to Panarchy), eklekltiarchist (the roots of the word can be found here: http://mises.org/Community/forums/p/615/72268.aspx#72268), which would more or less mean "the freedom to choose rulers" (again, similar to the previous 2 terms), etc. I myself think that voluntaryism is more specific to what I used to ascribe to anarcho-capitalism exclusively, but would not rule out the others as good choices either. For some, and occasionally for myself, market-anarchist suffices as a term to use instead, as well. I wouldn't be against a new Anarcho-Capitalist FAQ (it would certainly help if it looked at all previous An-Cap FAQS & addressed weak areas & recent developments, & to be more up to date), but I would also think that a new "Anarcho-Capitalist" FAQ would be more effective if it utilized a new, more accurate (etymologically speaking) term to describe itself.
This one is quite useful:
http://www.ozarkia.net/bill/anarchism/faq.html#part2
As well as these for specific sections:
http://libertariannation.org/b/bibhome.htm
And this thread for some of those questions:
http://mises.org/Community/forums/t/5518.aspx
The difference between libertarianism and socialism is that libertarians will tolerate the existence of a socialist community, but socialists can't tolerate a libertarian community.