To
[quote]
(Why Capitalism? - #108 by Lilburne) myself, "If all one cares about is winning arguments by any means necessary, and not about the truth of the position, or clarity regarding why you yourself want the social order to be a certain way, then I suppose it’s not a “versus scenario”. If one adopts such a sophistic approach, there aren’t any versus scenarios with regard to arguments. You could take this approach as far as you want to go. “Libertarianism, because of human utility! You don’t understand economics? Okay, libertarianism because the state violates natural rights! You’re religious? Okay, libertarianism, because the state violates God-given rights! You’re into logic? Okay, libertarianism because to advocate anything else would be a performative contradiction! You’re into evolution? Okay, libertarianism because it furthers the species! You’re into aliens? Okay, libertarianism because Xenu demands it!”
To me this approach is not only distasteful, but it is ultimately counterproductive, because it discredits us in the eyes of others. I think this eclectic approach to argumentation betrays a tendency to fetishize libertarianism, and the latter causes non-libertarians to dismiss us as a monomaniacal sect who has nothing to say to those who aren’t already “liberty lovers” at a gut level."