Comments on: The Henley Question & a response to Aitkenhead on selfishness http://www.john-wright.net/2006/07/08/the-henley-question-a-response-to-aitkenhead-on-selfishness/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-henley-question-a-response-to-aitkenhead-on-selfishness Not Facebook Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:58:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: K. McL. http://www.john-wright.net/2006/07/08/the-henley-question-a-response-to-aitkenhead-on-selfishness/comment-page-1/#comment-142 K. McL. Thu, 27 Jul 2006 14:09:00 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/2006/07/08/the-henley-question-a-response-to-aitkenhead-on-selfishness/#comment-142 Jonny is right that there is an ongoing argument regarding whether or not Smith intended the kind of free market advocated by libertarians today. The socalled invisible hand was only mentioned once in his entire works. That said, Wright appears to be within commonly accepted interpretations of Smith's work, and it seems to me that while it could be argued that Smith attacked big-business capitalism, Wright is defending that on premises such that are not particularly relevant to his appeal to Smith here. What Aitkenhead seemed to be saying was in fact directly contradicted by some of Adam Smith's writing. Jonny is right that there is an ongoing argument regarding whether or not Smith intended the kind of free market advocated by libertarians today. The socalled invisible hand was only mentioned once in his entire works. That said, Wright appears to be within commonly accepted interpretations of Smith’s work, and it seems to me that while it could be argued that Smith attacked big-business capitalism, Wright is defending that on premises such that are not particularly relevant to his appeal to Smith here. What Aitkenhead seemed to be saying was in fact directly contradicted by some of Adam Smith’s writing.

]]> By: John Wright http://www.john-wright.net/2006/07/08/the-henley-question-a-response-to-aitkenhead-on-selfishness/comment-page-1/#comment-138 John Wright Fri, 21 Jul 2006 17:37:00 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/2006/07/08/the-henley-question-a-response-to-aitkenhead-on-selfishness/#comment-138 Jonny- I'll resist my inclination to view your paranthetical Wikipedia comment as a kind of intellectual snobbery. Libertarianism is most certainly a development of classical liberalism, of which Adam Smith was a defining character - I don't think anyone disagrees with that. You say an alternative view may not be a bad idea; are you asking me to read Chomsky or are you recommending that our readers do that, lest they be brainwashed by me? Jonny- I’ll resist my inclination to view your paranthetical Wikipedia comment as a kind of intellectual snobbery. Libertarianism is most certainly a development of classical liberalism, of which Adam Smith was a defining character – I don’t think anyone disagrees with that. You say an alternative view may not be a bad idea; are you asking me to read Chomsky or are you recommending that our readers do that, lest they be brainwashed by me?

]]> By: Jonny http://www.john-wright.net/2006/07/08/the-henley-question-a-response-to-aitkenhead-on-selfishness/comment-page-1/#comment-136 Jonny Tue, 18 Jul 2006 14:57:00 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/2006/07/08/the-henley-question-a-response-to-aitkenhead-on-selfishness/#comment-136 Oh yeah - there are long-running academic debates about just how much Adam Smith's position is in keeping with your sort of libertarianism (although your feeling that you are in his 'tradition' is interesting). <br/><br/>Of course you are as free as anyone else to read and interpret his writing, but an alternative view might not be a bad idea - I think Chomsky was one of the more readable ones (but still might be a step up from Wikipedia?) Oh yeah – there are long-running academic debates about just how much Adam Smith’s position is in keeping with your sort of libertarianism (although your feeling that you are in his ‘tradition’ is interesting).

Of course you are as free as anyone else to read and interpret his writing, but an alternative view might not be a bad idea – I think Chomsky was one of the more readable ones (but still might be a step up from Wikipedia?)

]]> By: jonny http://www.john-wright.net/2006/07/08/the-henley-question-a-response-to-aitkenhead-on-selfishness/comment-page-1/#comment-135 jonny Tue, 18 Jul 2006 14:49:00 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/2006/07/08/the-henley-question-a-response-to-aitkenhead-on-selfishness/#comment-135 Come on John - you must get that when she says you're statistially more likely to be in an accident in an SUV than a Boxster, that means more SUV crashes per SUV than Boxster crashes per Boxster?<br/><br/>Or were you (shock! horror!) deliberately misinterpreting her statement, so that those already inclined to agree with you can continue with this circle-jerk? Come on John – you must get that when she says you’re statistially more likely to be in an accident in an SUV than a Boxster, that means more SUV crashes per SUV than Boxster crashes per Boxster?

Or were you (shock! horror!) deliberately misinterpreting her statement, so that those already inclined to agree with you can continue with this circle-jerk?

]]> By: Claire http://www.john-wright.net/2006/07/08/the-henley-question-a-response-to-aitkenhead-on-selfishness/comment-page-1/#comment-131 Claire Mon, 10 Jul 2006 21:13:00 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/2006/07/08/the-henley-question-a-response-to-aitkenhead-on-selfishness/#comment-131 HAHA John Wright this cracked me up HAHA John Wright this cracked me up

]]> By: John Wright http://www.john-wright.net/2006/07/08/the-henley-question-a-response-to-aitkenhead-on-selfishness/comment-page-1/#comment-130 John Wright Sun, 09 Jul 2006 22:34:00 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/2006/07/08/the-henley-question-a-response-to-aitkenhead-on-selfishness/#comment-130 Jostlyn- As a blanket statement, no, she isn't right. When you contrast my SUV, a <a HREF="http://www.internetautoguide.com/crash-tests/09-int/2006/ford/explorer/index.html" REL="nofollow">Ford Explorer</a> with a <a HREF="http://www.internetautoguide.com/crash-tests/09-int/2004/ford/focus/index.html" REL="nofollow">Ford Focus</a>, for example, the SUV is a safer vehicle. And the Ford Explorer has long been America's most popular SUV. Jostlyn- As a blanket statement, no, she isn’t right. When you contrast my SUV, a Ford Explorer with a Ford Focus, for example, the SUV is a safer vehicle. And the Ford Explorer has long been America’s most popular SUV.

]]> By: Jostlyn White New York http://www.john-wright.net/2006/07/08/the-henley-question-a-response-to-aitkenhead-on-selfishness/comment-page-1/#comment-129 Jostlyn White New York Sun, 09 Jul 2006 21:48:00 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/2006/07/08/the-henley-question-a-response-to-aitkenhead-on-selfishness/#comment-129 Isn't she right though on the safety aspect of SUVS? Isn’t she right though on the safety aspect of SUVS?

]]> By: PatriaMom http://www.john-wright.net/2006/07/08/the-henley-question-a-response-to-aitkenhead-on-selfishness/comment-page-1/#comment-128 PatriaMom Sun, 09 Jul 2006 17:44:00 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/2006/07/08/the-henley-question-a-response-to-aitkenhead-on-selfishness/#comment-128 LOL! I love this<br/><br/>Next blog: How non-S.U.V. drivers are threatening the safety of their families by choosing smaller cars and how irresponsible that is and how we should consider legislation to ban any car that weighs less than 4000 pounds! LOL! I love this

Next blog: How non-S.U.V. drivers are threatening the safety of their families by choosing smaller cars and how irresponsible that is and how we should consider legislation to ban any car that weighs less than 4000 pounds!

]]> By: Mark Golden http://www.john-wright.net/2006/07/08/the-henley-question-a-response-to-aitkenhead-on-selfishness/comment-page-1/#comment-127 Mark Golden Sun, 09 Jul 2006 07:47:00 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/2006/07/08/the-henley-question-a-response-to-aitkenhead-on-selfishness/#comment-127 Man! You have a very well thought out argument! I particularly appreciate what you say about individuals becoming all they can be, when people start businesses and employ other people and then they start businesses and so on, that is what makes individuals great. Keep up the good work! We read your blog all the time. Man! You have a very well thought out argument! I particularly appreciate what you say about individuals becoming all they can be, when people start businesses and employ other people and then they start businesses and so on, that is what makes individuals great. Keep up the good work! We read your blog all the time.

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