25 February 2010
Is Libertarianism Based on a Principle -- According to Merriam-Webster?
Having noted yesterday that the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary would not even attempt a definition of Progressivism, I thought I had best be sure that it offered reasonable definitions of Libertarianism and Libertarian.
The definition offered for Libertarian is (Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged. Merriam-Webster, 2002. http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com (25 Feb. 2010).:
1 : an advocate of the doctrine of free will -- contrasted with necessitarian
2 : one who upholds the principles of liberty ; specifically : one who upholds the principles of individual liberty of thought and action
The second definition is a reasonable brief statement of the basic principle for which a Libertarian stands in politics. The kind of problem that stood in the way of the Progressives in defining themselves on the basis of principles does not exist for Libertarians!
It turns out that the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines Libertarianism as
the theories or practices of a libertarian,
which is fine since it defined libertarian. So, libertarianism is based on principles and a Libertarian is a man of principle, unlike a Progressive who has no definable principles according to the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary!
Oh, it can be fun hoisting a Progressive (liberal, fascist, socialist) upon his own petard!
The definition offered for Libertarian is (Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged. Merriam-Webster, 2002. http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com (25 Feb. 2010).:
1 : an advocate of the doctrine of free will -- contrasted with necessitarian
2 : one who upholds the principles of liberty ; specifically : one who upholds the principles of individual liberty of thought and action
The second definition is a reasonable brief statement of the basic principle for which a Libertarian stands in politics. The kind of problem that stood in the way of the Progressives in defining themselves on the basis of principles does not exist for Libertarians!
It turns out that the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines Libertarianism as
the theories or practices of a libertarian,
which is fine since it defined libertarian. So, libertarianism is based on principles and a Libertarian is a man of principle, unlike a Progressive who has no definable principles according to the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary!
Oh, it can be fun hoisting a Progressive (liberal, fascist, socialist) upon his own petard!
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