Where would you send someone for this argument in particular? I've started two or three of Hoppe's books, but never finished any of them.
Well, it would give a more solid ground to his argumentation. Neither rationalism nor irrationalism can provide that. He takes things for granted for which his metaphysical and epistemological assumptions cannot account--some would call this "living on borrowed capital." As it stands, he argues very well from the starting point that _humans act_, and deduces from there--but there are important facts to consider that are logically prior to that starting point that should influence his downstream argumentation. You'll likely pick up that I'm referring to the debate between revelation and reason as competing sources of knowledge--when, for my part, I agree with one philosopher who has said "reason is, itself, a revelation."
I would agree with that first point, for sure. Yes, _Ethics of Liberty_ was helpful, even if inconsistent (I think of his lousy pro-"choice" arguments--abortion is a clear violation of the NAP).
It is! Sadly the greater context is not one I can appreciate, coming from a biblical worldview. He gets so many things right, and has so many worthy sensibilities, but his foundation is "sinking sand." I haven't read his "epistemological problems" yet, but I've always wanted to apply some Van Til to Mises and see what happens.
I think **I** need a Difficulty Adjustment.
I would like to propose: #lightnostr
> The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
[Isaiah 9:2](https://blb.sc/009Lye), KJV
> Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
[John 8:12](https://blb.sc/00Gjvg), KJV
> This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
[1John 1:5-7](https://blb.sc/004dRR), KJV
POST TENEBRAS LUX
Oh, that's a good point. Rothbard and Hoppe were right to differ from Mises on the ground-basis for their arguments. Mises' outright rejection of natural law arguments in favor of rationalist (and yet also irratianalist!) ones is, IMO, a major flaw.
Nevertheless, you'll find sprinklings of natural law type sensibilites--unavoidable, I think--in his _Socialism: An Economic and Sociological Analysis_ in passages such as this one--which is the one I had in mind for the paraphrase above:
> So far as Feminism seeks to adjust the legal position of woman to that of man, so far as it seeks to offer her legal and economic freedom to develop and act in accordance with her inclinations, desires, and economic circumstances—so far it is nothing more than a branch of the great liberal movement, which advocates peaceful and free evolution. When, going beyond this, it attacks the institutions of social life under the impression that it will thus be able to remove the natural barriers, it is a spiritual child of Socialism. _For it is a characteristic of Socialism to discover in social institutions the origin of unalterable facts of nature, and to endeavour, by reforming these institutions, to reform nature_.
https://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/kahane-socialism-an-economic-and-sociological-analysis
...you're right to challenge my 'natural order of things' -- that's probably reading too much into that passage. He only refers to 'nature' and he probably means less by that than I wish he did! 😅
Good eye, brother. 🤜🤛
Oh, that's a good point. Rothbard and Hoppe were right to differ from Mises on the ground-basis for their arguments. Mises' outright rejection of natural law arguments in favor of rationalist (and yet also irratianalist!) ones is, IMO, a major flaw.
Nevertheless, you'll find sprinklings of natural law type sensibilites--unavoidable, I think--in his _Socialism: An Economic and Sociological Analysis_ in passages such as this one--which is the one I had in mind for the paraphrase above:
> So far as Feminism seeks to adjust the legal position of woman to that of man, so far as it seeks to offer her legal and economic freedom to develop and act in accordance with her inclinations, desires, and economic circumstances—so far it is nothing more than a branch of the great liberal movement, which advocates peaceful and free evolution. When, going beyond this, it attacks the institutions of social life under the impression that it will thus be able to remove the natural barriers, it is a spiritual child of Socialism. _For it is a characteristic of Socialism to discover in social institutions the origin of unalterable facts of nature, and to endeavour, by reforming these institutions, to reform nature_.
https://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/kahane-socialism-an-economic-and-sociological-analysis
...me too. 🤝
_Unjust_ anger is a power trip. And it often betrays more weakness than it does strength. I can't remember now on whose profile I saw this recently, but _vincit qui se vincit_ -- "he conquers who conquers himself."
Reminds me of [Pro 16:32](https://blb.sc/0055MV), KJV
> [He that is] slow to anger [is] better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
🫡 It does...and they did...but Mises said it first.
"I run through the meadow full speed and let the wind dry me if it wills, and if not--so be it."
> Socialism is a revolt against the natural order of things.
~ Mises, paraphrased
GM
Sometimes the truth hurts, but it should never be unkind.
...the window is for his phone.
LOL you took this in a direction I wasn't even thinking about, but YES
I was thinking 2 men * 7 days and no fishing, you need closer to 28 lbs. of bacon...
What an absolutely broken, fraudulent, joke of a monetary / banking system we have [in the U.S.].
I know--preaching to the choir--but, just saying. Imagine "deposit holds," "banking hours," "banking holidays," "ASKING PERMISSION," -- "RESERVE REQUIREMENTS" -- **AT 0%** -- "_FIDUCIARY MEDIA_" -- LOLOL
[1 Corinthians 15](https://blb.sc/002MbK) is life-changing.
GM
Libertarians: "the probelm is State-Business collusion."
Socialists: "yes, the problem is State-Business collusion."
Libertarians: "end the State."
Socialists: "no, end Business."
Libertarians: "but you can't do that, everyone will starve!"
Socialists: "but we'll all starve _together as one_!"
I bet 'anarchist' is the scariest one in the bunch.
I'm eager to listen in, if I may, to your journey. Please do share your explorations!
Nice! I'm humbled you would take my advice! Such a good and important book.
Completely agree about the 'right-wing' 'left-wing' thing. Spot on.
His 'The Fatal Conceit' is a great follow-up, btw.
(If you're a religious-minded person, Machen's Christianity and Liberalism has many similarities, applied to the modernists.)
*giggles in Ron Swanson*
A slight modifcation to that popular thesis... the enlightenment took the conclusions and jettisoned the theology from which it was derived
The Reformation of Rights: Law, Religion and Human Rights in Early Modern Calvinism https://a.co/d/iK3zdxY
interesting read #bookstr
Only qualm I'd have is with a chapter or two in For A New Liberty. Specifically, I think abortion is a clear violation of the Non-Aggression Principle. Other than that, great stuff.
Linux Mail app over tor with gpg ed25519 encrypted messages?
Link npub to tor address
No bells or whistles but should
Or Thunderbird on Tails?
Surely we have the pieces we need FOSS to put this together