tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353680062320179256.post1234764518018380853..comments2023-12-29T17:12:14.653-08:00Comments on Shaving Leviathan: The Enemy Has His Own ProblemsJeffrey Perrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11841019772535869442noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353680062320179256.post-89590151406583812932009-12-15T11:05:59.015-08:002009-12-15T11:05:59.015-08:00Ted,
I agree with your division between the two f...Ted,<br /><br />I agree with your division between the two factions, as a general scheme.<br /><br />And, I have to acknowledge that Rousseau was indeed a progressive - since he invented it. Also, it's a minor point, I'd say the 'Progs' are largely pragmatic Rousseauians rather than Rousseauian pragmatists.<br /><br />But on the issue of Enlightenment philosophy in general, we disagree profoundly. I'm not sure why I'd need to check my premises when I can check primary and secondary sources. What I find there is that Rousseau was opposed to every major feature of the Enlightenment, particularly it's exaltation of reason and reason's chief products: science and art, and their products in turn, along with private property and civilization in general, all of which he decried.<br /><br />See Stephen Hicks, Explaining Postmodernism, pg 92 and following for details.Jeffrey Perrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11841019772535869442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353680062320179256.post-17439460073786446672009-12-14T19:37:57.227-08:002009-12-14T19:37:57.227-08:00You might wish to check your premises on that &quo...You might wish to check your premises on that "EnLIEtenment" FOOLosophy, my friend, as many of the Progs are textbook Rousseauian pragmatists, as was the lot of alleged "Conservatives" that preceeded them.<br />In the final analysis, there are only two political factions: Those who want absolute control over your life to wring it out of you, and those who have no such desire.TheWayfarerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15074292938877766871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353680062320179256.post-43455133646382154602009-12-14T09:45:53.690-08:002009-12-14T09:45:53.690-08:00Ted,
On names: It's a tough call.
"Pro...Ted,<br /><br />On names: It's a tough call. <br /><br />"Progressive" is historically accurate (even to the present), but the name itself is absurd, since everything they advocate is regressive. Personally, I refer to them as Anti(s) because they're consistently anti-anything that actually helps living individuals thrive. But that hasn't caught on, so I use the more common term.<br /><br />Second: "Second, it's a miracle/pure grace" With respect, no, it's owing to the remnants of the Enlightenment philosophy, and the efforts of those Americans - known and obscure - who continue to fight against the fascists.<br /><br /><br />Thanks for the extended Franklin quote. I knew the first part but had never read the last line. Great!Jeffrey Perrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11841019772535869442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353680062320179256.post-31423426823729644852009-12-13T19:31:31.537-08:002009-12-13T19:31:31.537-08:00First up, a huge thanks for calling these birds &q...First up, a <b>huge</b> thanks for calling these birds "Progressive", since they are not and never were liberal in any sense of the word.<br />Second, it's a miracle/pure grace we're not in cattle cars or concentration camps right now and the internet completely shut down with people like HITLERy Clinton and George Soros (s)electing our Presidents and Nancy Pelosi ramming his fascism down our throats.<br />Last, due to the design of the systems of this world, liberty will always need diligent defending. Ben Franklin said "Democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on what's for dinner. Liberty is a well-armed sheep contesting the vote!"TheWayfarerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15074292938877766871noreply@blogger.com