rwsh@hound.UUCP (R.STUBBLEFIELD) (06/09/85)
-ISMs POLL
Please respond to this poll by e-mail to ihnp4!hound!rwsh or by mail to
Bob Stubblefield
AT&T-Bell Labs Rm 2J611
Crawfords Corner Road
Holmdel, NJ 07733
201-949-2846
Many different meanings are used for the labels "capitalism," "socialism,"
and "libertarianism." For each statement below place a symbol ("+", "-", or
" ") under
C for capitalism,
S for socialism,
L for libertarianism,
Y for your view.
Use the "+" symbol if you think the ISM or your view is in agreement with the
statement. By agreement with an ISM, I mean that in your opinion the statement
is logically consistent with the ISM.
Use the "-" symbol for disagreement. By disagreement with an ISM, I mean that
in your opinion the statement is in contradiction with the ISM in question.
Please leave blanks for all other conditions such as don't cares, ill-defined,
not-applicable, don't understand, etc.
*-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| As an example, my response to the first two questions is:
|C S L Y
| Political-Economic Statements
|+ - - + 1. The purpose of government is to protect individual rights.
|- + - - 2. The purpose of government is to provide for a fair distribution of
| wealth.
*------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C S L Y
Political-Economic Statements
1. The purpose of government is to protect individual rights.
2. The purpose of government is to provide for a fair distribution of
wealth.
3. The purpose of government is to protect the interests of the rulers.
4. Laws against victimless crimes do not protect individual rights.
5. The "right to property" is an individual right.
6. The "right to a job" is an individual right.
7. The "right to an education" is an individual right.
8. The "right to secede" is an individual right.
9. The "right to incorporate" is an individual right.
10. Taxes are necessary for the existence of government.
11. Conscription is necessary for the existence of a government.
12. Government can only be maintained by violating individual rights.
13. Government regulation of economic affairs is necessary.
14. Protection of individual rights requires separation of state and
economics.
15. Rights are inalienable.
16. Rights are created by governments.
17. The concept of "rights" is not useful.
C S L Y
Moral Statements
1. Selfishness is a virtue.
2. Sacrifice is a virtue.
3. Your view on morality does not have any bearing on the
validity of your political theory.
4. Sacrificing others to yourself is not immoral.
5. The initiation of force is wrong.
6. Mercy is a virtue.
7. Justice is a virtue.
8. Morality is not objective.
9. Government is evil.
10. Rationality is a fundamental virtue.
11. Greed is a vice.
12. Government is a necessary evil.
13. You should act to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number.
14. Man's life is the standard of moral value.
15. Honesty is a virtue.
C S L Y
The Nature of Man
1. Man is inherently good.
2. Man is inherently evil.
3. Man is self-made--has volition and chooses for good or evil.
4. The prevailing economic system determines how good or evil
someone is.
5. Fundamentally man's actions are caused by his emotions.
6. Fundamentally man's actions are caused by his ideas.
7. Fundamentally man's actions are caused by his instincts.
8. Your view on the nature of man does not have any bearing
on the validity of your political theory.
9. Man needs principles to guide his actions.
10. Reason is man's fundamental means of survival.
C S L Y
The Nature of Knowledge
1. Man's knowledge is a product of the operation of his consciousness
on the material provided by his senses.
2. Extra-sensory perception yields knowledge.
3. Revelation yields knowledge.
4. Nobody really knows anything.
5. Who am I to know?
6. Your view on the nature of knowledge has nothing to do with
the validity of your political theory.
7. Consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.
8. Philosophical axioms are arbitrary.
9. The senses are valid.
C S L Y
The Nature of the Universe
1. The universe is all that exists and it is real--not imaginary.
2. There is a supreme consciousness which is outside of nature.
3. Things are what they are.
4. Contradictions do not exist.
5. Miracles can happen.
6. Your view on the nature of the universe has nothing to do with
the validity of your political theory.
C S L Y
An Attempted Classification
1. I generally agree ("+") or disagree ("-") with the ISM marked.
Please feel free to make copies and distribute this poll to increase
participation. Bob Stubblefield ihnp4!hound!rwsh