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| Moral Rights |
| Fred
Speaking
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 It seems to me that there are two understandings of individualism, one which stresses negative and another that stresses positive rights.Both views hope to see the individual flourish. The libertarian seeks to do this by establishing individual rights as side constraints on the action of others. Thus it limits interference with individual activity. On this view it is easy to justify property rights, freedom of movement, freedom of religion, sexual freedom, and so on. The other view seeks to lessen interference, but allows those interferences that are necessary to provide everyone with the means required to thrive. On this view it is easy to justify federally funded health care, public schools, subsidized housing for the poor, and so forth. I'm not sure that I accept either view. I'm concerned that neither view understands the extent that order is required to preserve society and what we call civilization. Frank Meyer believed that civilization is fragile, and that "political freedom is only effectively achieved when the bulwarks of civilizational order are preserved." Conservatism Since 1930, p. 261. |
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