Your Email:

Subject:

Message:
Entry: The Relativist Roots of Libertarianism Link: http://www.takimag.com/blogs/article/the_relativist_roots_of_libertarianism#25579 Post contents: No, I'd not outlaw them. I might even legalize or decriminalize marijuana, though I'm inclined not to only because it seems to incense the kind of people whom I feel quite good about annoying. But I'd certainly keep heroin, cocaine, etc. highly illegal. Why? Because the latter drugs are worse in their individual and social effects, often makin gmen lose their minds, are more highly addictive, and the people who deal them seem more violent and useless on average. In other words, I'd not settle this question on the basis of some abstract rule. Alcohol and tobacco, incidentally, are *good for you.* So I think your major premise is flawed. I'm not primarily talking about physical health in my discussion of the "human good," of course. My heroes include St. Sebastian and St. Maximilian Kolbe, and, needless to say, their ends weren't all that physically healthy. Since I'm not a materialist, and think the real goods in life are spiritual--friendship, conviviality, conversation, piety, etc.--it should be obvious why wine and cigarettes are good for you. If you don't see why, may I suggest Hillaire Belloc's heroic poem in praise of wine. Sent at: 2008 07 24