"Liberalism Dissolves the Person"

An article by Dr. Keith Burgess-Jackson at TCS, Apr. 27:

Why are liberals such as Paul Krugman, Michael Moore, and Howard Dean so angry and aggressive? I like to think that I have insight into this matter, since I was a liberal for a long time. If you haven't been a liberal, you may be puzzled by what you hear and read from them. They may seem — dare I say it? — insane, or at least discombobulated....

Most of us believe that responsibility and desert should play a role in the distribution of benefits and burdens. Liberals disagree. Deep down, liberals deny that anyone is responsible for anything. What we are, in terms of personal character, is a function of circumstances beyond our control. How we behave depends solely on our environment. Our very choices are determined, not free. Liberalism dissolves the person. To the liberal, we are loci of movement rather than initiators of action, patients rather than agents, heteronomous rather than autonomous beings. Liberals will deny this, of course, but look at their beliefs and policy prescriptions....

Keith also has a weblog.

See also "My Journey to Conservatism" and "Why Liberals Think Conservatives Are Stoopid".

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Tue. 05/04/04 05:19:41 PM
Categorized as Social/Cultural.