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Gil wrote in the Tentativity comments here:
I think that until there is consensus that the right thing to do is refrain from coercing other people, then people will use whatever wealth and power they have to try to do just that.

I replied: I think this statement is exactly what's wrong with mainstream libertarianism. It has both the conspiracy problem (the view that people with power, want to abuse it) and the non-coercion problem (the view that non-coercion is prior to morality and self-evident).

Elliot Temple on March 4, 2003

Messages (2)

i don't understand what the quote is saying.

> "I think that until there is consensus that the right thing to do is refrain from coercing other people, then people will use whatever wealth and power they have to try to do just that."

what is "that" referring to? coercing other people?

is this saying that people (many individuals) will or will not use their power to coerce other people depending on whether or not a bunch of other people believe (consensus) that the right thing to do is refrain from coercing other people?

cause that makes no sense. and that's the only interpretation i have for what Gil meant.


Anonymous at 12:35 PM on January 26, 2016 | #4688 | reply | quote

i agree it's written poorly. "just that" refers to "coercing other people".

i think he basically meant "until people all think it's immoral to hurt each other, people will hurt each other". boring!


Anonymous at 1:12 PM on January 26, 2016 | #4692 | reply | quote

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