Comments on: Looking in the Mirror

By: Beth

Beth — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 15:09:30 +0000

I think it is helpful for this discussion to realize that hypocricy is not a logical fallacy. Not practicing what one preaches in no way dimishes the argument or rightness of what is being preached. Inconsistancy on the other hand is a logical fallacy. Inconsistancy is holding two beliefs that cannot be true at the same time. So the question to be asked rather than “am I being hypocritical,” is “am I being inconsistant?” I could be wrong, but I do not see Mr. B as being inconsistant here.

By: David L. Kendall

David L. Kendall — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 02:39:07 +0000

In a world without state-assisted colleges and universities, I would teach and I would be a libertarian. In a world dominated by state-assisted colleges and universities, I teach and I am a libertarian.

I teach at a state-assisted college for the same reason that Willy Sutton robbed banks.

In the end, I choose those actions that I believe will promote my goals most — just like everyone else. So, if teaching at a state-assisted college as a libertarian is hypocritical, being a hypocrite evidently doesn’t cause me much heartburn. Hey, maybe I’m just bad to the bone. :0)

By: Skyler Collins

Skyler Collins — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 14:04:57 +0000

Here’s another look at this by Walter Block, for those interested: http://www.lewrockwell.com/block/block86.html

By: Jacob Steelman

Jacob Steelman — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:08:33 +0000

MatthiasH – What nonsense you babble. The state gives freedom and the private sector does not. This sounds very Orwellian. Check your basic libertarian premises. Libertarianism is the extreme and ultimate – complete freedom of the individual and non-coercive. That is the goal and nothing less is accepable. Yes we have to make compromises such as driving on state owned highways but that should never never distract a libertarian from the goal – free minds and free markets.

By: Jacob Steelman

Jacob Steelman — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:00:01 +0000

Donald you are wrong to continue at GMU particularly if you have been offered positions at private universities. You voluntarily elect to work at a state owned enterprise and your excuses have no basis in principle. Driving on state owned highways which are virtually a 100% monopoly and voluntarily electing to work for the state when you have choices in the private arena are not the same as you well know.

By: Gleason Greene

Gleason Greene — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:50:46 +0000

Keep up the good work. Great to be able to preach liberty at the government’s expense. My concern is, when will they prevent the ideas of liberty, and those inconsistent with government policy from being expressed. At the current rate of managed thinking I fear further constraints are soon to come; the new internet bill being an excellent example.

By: Boudreaux sobre ser liberal y funcionario, ¡al mismo tiempo! « Procesos de aprendizaje

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:06:26 +0000

[...] Donald Boudreaux, de la George Mason University, escribió un artículo en la revista de FEE, The Freeman, sobre este tema. La forma de responder de Boudreaux me parece honesta y humilde. Piensa que no hay respuestas tajantes a las preguntas que se plantea, y a las aparentes contradicciones que existen. Concluye por ejemplo que: “I don’t think it’s unreasonable for anyone to question me strongly and skeptically on this matter”. Recomiendo leer el artículo completo. [...]

By: Bob S

Bob S — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 16:35:19 +0000

Interesting article. I mostly agree with the author, and for the same reason that I support natural rights in the first place. There are MANY decisions that are of necessity judgment calls. Reasonable people may disagree, even when they both have similar principles. (Of course when they do NOT have similar principles, things get more complicated.) But in this case, speaking of people who support individual rights, we have a judgment call. That being the case, who has better knowledge of the situation than the man involved? Who knows his life better than he does? Won’t we get the best possible decision (other things being equal) when HE decides what is best for him?

By: The Big Picture Storybook Bible « Ezra and the Farmer

The Big Picture Storybook Bible « Ezra and the Farmer — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:25:28 +0000

[...] and informed. I’d love to hear your comments on this issue, my struggle and my practice. (In this article a libertarian teaching at a state university has to deal with a similar [...]

By: Brian

Brian — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 08:24:18 +0000

It’s the difference between gradualism and abolitionism. The abolitionist will require strict separation, even at the expense of promulgating the ideas of liberty to the largest audience. No mention of the cartel in universities where the barriers to entry are high with tenured leftist professors dominating. Harvard is hardly the free market in as much as GMU. I remember Don when I was a student at a Young America’s Foundation summer conference in 1986. There is a saying, “Don’t make the good the enemy of the perfect.” Don has worked him way up over many years of work. Keep up the good work and not be distracted by the chirping of crickets.