adam@npois.UUCP (Adam V. Reed) (06/11/85)
Bob, In connection with Libertarianism, you remind me that >In her article "The Anatomy of Compromise," Ayn Rand formulated three rules >on the working of principles in practice: > > 1. In any *conflict* between two men (or two groups) who hold the > *same* basic principles, it is the more consistent one who wins. > > 2. In any *collaboration* between two men (or two groups) who > hold *different* basic principles, it the more evil or irrational > one who wins. > > 3. When opposite basic principles are clearly and openly defined, > it works to the advantage of the rational side; when they are > *not* clearly defined, but are hidden or evaded, it works to the > advantage of the irrational side. > > [*Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal*, p. 145, $2.95, Palo Alto Book > Service, 200 California Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94306] > >I think these rules are relevant for the above discussion. I find it >particularly enlightening to consider their application to the >Libertarian movement. When reading her article, I thought that Rand was writing about ideological compromise, not about political collaboration. Whether the argument also applies to political collaboration is an interesting question. To answer this question one must weigh the political consequences of failing to act together with others to oppose an evil, against the consequences of collaborating with people who have different motives for seeking coincident political goals. The question cannot be decided by treating an ideologically heterogeneous political coalition, such as the libertarian movement, as though it were a system of ideas. In reading the first part of the recent Schwartz article, I received the distinct impression that this is what he was doing. I hope the second part will be better.... Adam Reed ihnp4!npois!adam