Another left-libertarian anarchist joins the crew

PaulM · Number of posts: 2 Registration date: 2009-10-10

Hey everyone. I stumbled across this site after catching wind of the whole FDR and "UPB" drama. What the hell does defoo mean anyway?

I've basically spent the last 10 hours or so reading through the UPB book (/facepalm), "The Promise and Failure of UPB–The Inside Story" (excellent story by the way!), posts on the FDR forum, and watching youtube videos of stephan attempting to explain his theories.

Wow - I had no idea all this crazy stuff was going on in the online libertarian world! I knew this stef guy was a popularizer of libertarian talking points, but I didn't know he had practically started a cult! Good lord.

Anyway, I've been looking for a good place to discuss philosophy, politics, and economics for a while now, and this forum is the best I've come across - so I registered.

Sooo, about me. Well, I got an undergraduate degree in political science, with a minor in philosophy. Needless to say, I learned a lot more in a couple good philosophy courses (small group seminar courses) than I learned in all of my poly sci courses combined, with the exception of some decent classes on political ideology and anarchism.

I'm currently in law school, but my real passion is libertarianism. Any real interest in libertarianism inevitably leads one to study economics, philosophy, history, etc. Of course, further inquiry lead me to mutualism and left-libertarianism. Right now I'm mainly struggling with the philosophical concepts of morality and ethics (har har not surprising for a lawyer in training har har), which is where you folks come in: FEED ME YOUR BRAINS.

Honestly I've just about had it with the whole concept of morality and all that bullshit, and I think I'm just going to be a straight up empiricist and self-interested utilitarian - does that get me off the hook of the tough questions? I'm starting to get into sociology and game theory as an alternative to tying my brain in a pretzel.

Oh yea, another reason I decided to join this forum is because I recognized Danny from a FEE conference I attended in 2007 and an IHS conference I attended just this past summer, and I know he's pretty into left-libertarianism, so I figured this place would be friendly to those with left leanings.

Phlogiston · Number of posts: 621 Location: NOLA Registration date: 2007-10-25

welcome.
We have talked forever about morals.At least half do not believe. I think most arguements are under the FDR catagory such as Danny's Moly project which has about 300 responses. We have mostly run out of ways to convince the others of pro or con.

Mitchell Porter · Number of posts: 4 Registration date: 2009-09-27

"defoo" = depart family of origin (as opposed to meadow of origin or planet of origin)

PaulM · Number of posts: 2 Registration date: 2009-10-10

Phlogiston wrote:

welcome.
We have talked forever about morals.At least half do not believe. I think most arguements are under the FDR catagory such as Danny's Moly project which has about 300 responses. We have mostly run out of ways to convince the others of pro or con.

Ah, interesting. It's comforting to hear that a lot of other people here don't believe in morals, although in a way that's kind of disturbing. I'll be sure to check out that discussion in order to catch up with the current state of the debate on the issue. Thank you for mentioning it.

Mitchell Porter wrote:

"defoo" = depart family of origin (as opposed to meadow of origin or planet of origin)

Thank you. That makes sense... er, at least the acronym does. I still don't know a whole lot about it but based on all the stories I've read so far it gives me the creeps.

T.E.M. · Number of posts: 230 Location: 'ol Virginny Registration date: 2008-12-05

Mitchell Porter wrote:

"defoo" = depart family of origin (as opposed to meadow of origin or planet of origin)

I never thought about it, but space travel=dePOO... hehe

I now proclaim myself winner of the LiMi Ultra-Maturity Award of October 10th, 2009!

Oh, and to the OP, welcome.

Bigus Dickus · Number of posts: 362 Location: Brazil Registration date: 2008-06-06

Welcome. I for instance was pretty much a rothbardian when I first got here, and have since then given up the idea of morality. I don't know how this sounds to you, but in case it freaks you out; it's not like I'm down with murdering children right now -it's more of a stance on epistemology and metaphysics. A lot of people accept these same ideas re metaphysics, but choose to continue using moral terminology. I believe this leads to much confusion, given how much the word 'moral' carries with itself.

Furthermore, I think this fork of, "either you believe in morality or you're a utilitarian" is a false dichotomy. And FWIW, I think utilitarianism, in no matter which iteration, is total bullshit.