>From: "John Leppik" <jleppik@knowledgesystems.com>
>Following George's recommendation below. I looked up Amazon reviews of "The
>Future and Its Enemies" finding this tidbit to share...
> ...Unfortunately because of her magazine's past libertarian credentials,
>this book is taken seriously and has had a poisonous effect in those
>circles, steering them in directions which will lead to a totalitarian Big
>Brother society run amok if followed to their logical ends. Thus does
>libertarianism become its polar opposite.
What!? This is an absurd review, John, and the reviewer has clearly
misconstrued Postrel's argument and stance. Dynamism as a slipperly slope to
totalitarianism? Ridiculous.
Moreover, I don't see laissez faire libertarianism or social libertarianism
(or even Transhumanism) as a Rousseauesque imposition enforcing a specific
vision of 'freedom' on everyone. Postrel and libertarians talk about the
open-ended future. How could anything be more contrary to totalitarianism or
authoritarianism?
I'll further Amara's advice and suggest that you read this book. I can lend
it to you when I'm done. I think you'll like Postrel.
George
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Received on Thu Oct 17 07:00:00 2002
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