Asperger syndrome and Libertarianism idea

Post Reply New Topic

What do you think about this argument :

That is, libertarian thought verges on advocating a form of society very much along the lines of the "one-sided" and "self-centered" social nature of Aspies. Yes, as anyone familiar with the condition would observe here, those with Asperger's aren't individualistic in a technically autistic sense, i.e. they're not asocially withdrawn. But they do have a style of social interaction that's very much on the autistic spectrum, and that tends to define them as "individualistic in outlook" and given to a "lack of interest in socialization". It's this kind of autistic individuality that libertarianism can easily be seen as ideologically enshrining, in the form of its tenet of "self-ownership", and its glorification of every-man-for-himself free-marketarian economics and its cornerstone principle of self-interest.

Self-ownership, self-interest, self-this and self-that indeed. Note the frequency of occurrence of the word self in the conversation and philosophy of libertarians. They do rather appear to think in terms centered on atomized selves. I really don't think that it would be an unfair exaggeration at all to say that they in fact seem to have taken a centered-on-radically-individualistic-selves, a thoroughly self-centered orientation, and parlayed it into a political orthodoxy that rationalizes and validates it for them.

And, moreover, contrary to their professed belief in freedom, libertarians yearn to impose this self-centered orientation & orthodoxy on the rest of us, by promoting capitalism in its most antisocially individualistic, Darwinianly competitive form. Quite like political Aspies, libertarians first superimpose their own social way of being in the world on their thinking about society, and the next move of course is to go from superimposing to imposing. The sociopolitical thinking that feels so right to the liberpergerarian, to coin an awkward term, feels like it would be right and best for society as a whole. Naturally enough then, the liberpergerarian becomes a proponent, often a utopian and zealous one, of ideologically purifying our current mixed form of capitalism and visiting a more inhumanely selfist system upon his neighbor.

Asperger is the libertarianism

Now then, the possible painful human consequences of creating a socioeconomic order based to such an extreme extent on individualism perhaps doesn't adequately register with libertarians because of another hallmark Asperger's trait. I'm referring to the Aspie's distinctive deficit in the empathy department. An empathy deficit, does this sound at all like something that's characteristic of libertarianism and its adherents? That was a rhetorical question, by the way.

Libertarian philosophy of course often places no emphasis or value on the qualities of empathy and social compassion at all. In its most extreme version it even explicitly denounces such touchy-feely ethical qualities. Predictably, it thoroughly intellectualizes this with some of its key social concepts and its free-marketarian economics. But this is all really quite a lot of ideological self-justification of unfeeling self-centeredness. Libertarians can try as they may, but the leave-everyone-to-his-own-devices-and-to-the-winners-go-all-and-the-losers-can-die-and-decrease-the-surplus-population ethos of the their not so dear movement certainly bespeaks a lack of empathy. A veritably clinical lack of empathy, one that is yet another nail in the diagnosis of libertarianism as politicized Asperger's.

Next on the list of shared symptoms, the linear logicality & rigid rationalism of both Aspies and libertarians. Ever noticed how libertarians tend to be intellectually rather like latter-day scholastic philosophers, intensely, logic-choppingly, and doctrinairely rationalizing their politico-economic articles of faith the way medieval thinkers used to take their theological rationalizations to the extreme of deductively proving how many angels can dance on the head of a pin? And have you ever noticed how downright obsessive libertarians can be about the concepts of their creed, and about defending their intellectual validity? A penchant to be tenaciously logical and intellectually obsessive, doesn't this sound at least a tad Asperger's-like?!

I don't have a lot of time so I can't give this as complete a response as I would like but I can say say I used to be a fanatical Libertarian and know that many Libertarians are computer 'geeks' (likely Aspies) and are almost exclusively male and in their early to mid 20's. I can clearly see the link between Aspergers and Libertarian thought and it's almost laughable how naive I was just a few short years ago. I can see the attraction of Libertarianism because it appealed to my black and white thinking and incredible lack of understanding of social dynamics.

I could never understand why just about everyone laughed at my 'bulletproof' Libertarian arguments but I've since realized why. While I still have libertarian beliefs, they are FAR from mainstream Libertarianism.

I'd say yes and no. While Libertarians advocate individualism, not all of them are against being part of a group or helping others. What they oppose is a legal requirement on their lives and finances to fund wasteful government programs forcing them to live a certain way. I myself am a Libertarian leaning conservative Republican yet I give of my time to help those around me on a regular basis. I have no problem supporting charitable organizations that strive for a greater good. What I do have a problem with is a wasteful government that takes a lot of money from people while giving back very little to the recipients of the benefits in return. When over 70% of the money spent to "help the poor" is spent not on helping those in need but in paying for the bureaucracy, something is wrong.

Hmm... I lean toward Libertarianism in regards to the role of the Federal government and related politics on the national level. I share the Libertarian distrust of big government central planning out of Washington D.C..

I think the control of social programs and safety nets technically belongs to the jurisdiction of the States. If the Federal government plays any role in safety nets it should only be a subservient one to the States in regards to supplemental funding. (I do recognize a potential paperwork issue under this thinking when a person moves to another state but I think that can be addressed as easily as State Unemployment Insurance).

Hmm. Good question. I hypothesize that successful aspies might be more inclined than those who are not successful.

I've been diagnosed as an Aspie and I've always found Libertarians to be offensive and foolish.

Was a Libertarian, then an Anarchist, then I realized politics is utterly stupid (which would be an Anarchist that doesn't care).

You know what, f**k you. I hate libertarianism.

I kinda get what you are saying about libertarian emphasis on individualism and the possible connection to Aspergers. One of the things that is so problematic about libertarianism is that it is so broad as far as the philosophy it encompasses. I like the small (but present) government, equal rights, and equality of the law parts of libertarianism, and am pretty much a textbook right-libertarian. However, someone who believes government should be annihilated in all forms, personal property should be abolished, and basically raw anarchy let to reign could also be considered a libertarian too. It would take a very different person from me to be *that* sort of libertarian.

To get back to your topic, I think that the emphasis on self isn't so much from being selfish, but encouraging people to nurture themselves, take some initiative, and be self-reliant. There are government programs that, while well intended, (IMHO) subsidize and encourage dependence and bad behavior. I think that's the part of government that libertarians dislike.

As far as what you said about some libertarians being fanatical and stomping on any opinion different from their own, well, rabid fanatics come in all flavors and political parties. You can watch any good political debate and see that.

Libertarians might get a little (very little) bit more sympathy from me if they just dropped the Ayn Rand crap. They need to be adults and leave her behind like an infected foot that's been cut off.

Again and again, proof of sweet diversity in thoughts and opinions.....

TheSunAlsoRises

Above is not my argument.but in my opinion Socialist countries are not for Aspies because in these countries e.g China,India. individualism behavior is not acceptable, and the society there are very hate toward individualism and other kind of loner behaviors.there can be no freedom for being alone, socially withdrawal from the other peoples or society are disregard and accursed

Capitalism is the symbol of greedy and selfishness, it's make a large gap between the rich and the poor especially in some Socialist countries.In socialist and third world country especially in their metropolitan big city you can see there a dystopic condition where the rich collecting their money and staying in their comfortable elegant mansion being a social hermit with their semi Autistic nature. while the poor living in the ghetto where the neighbor infested by Socialist proletars who are very hate Libertarians and have a low toleration toward social eccentricity.Much of them are factory industrial workers, construction workers, thugs, street mechanics, beggars, and other low class jobs who love socializing and blaming individualist peoples like you.

What happen if a Asperger live in there ?
Peoples with Asperger are Libertarians.if you are loner and tend to do anything by yourself (self this, self that, formyself) you must change your bad selfish behavior immediately and follow the right social norm.because if you live there with Asperger syndome your neighborhood will accurse and extrude you together in the name of socialism.you will ended up being a underground outsider hiding from place to place try to survive, if you are jobless you'll be live in the ghetto ...but if you rich, perhaps you can try to live in the mansion or luxury penthouse.

Socialism peoples are very conservative and they are not accept or tolerate anykind of eccentricity.some of them are spiritualist, some other are irreligious