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To: Aquinasfan
From a strictly logical standpoint, the protection of individual liberties cannot be the first principle of the State because a prior principle is assumed, that the protection of liberties is the good for society.

As I noted earlier, the protection of liberties is the higher principle, because it is a prerequisite for creating the environment in which society can pursue its own good through its legitimate powers (example and persuasion).

The fundamental difference is that libertarians seek equitable opportunity for virtue, as opposed to moralistic statists who seek to guarantee it equitable outcome.

490 posted on 07/15/2004 7:25:15 AM PDT by steve-b (Panties & Leashes Would Look Good On Spammers)
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To: steve-b
As I noted earlier, the protection of liberties is the higher principle, because it is a prerequisite for creating the environment in which society can pursue its own good through its legitimate powers (example and persuasion).

The final end of the State isn't the "protection of liberties," but the common good, since the protection of liberties is justified as being good for the individuals in society.

Your position is self-contradictory and incoherent, but I give up on trying to convince you of that fact.

moralistic statists who seek to guarantee it equitable outcome.

The State, then, exists to help man to temporal happiness the Church, to eternal. Of these two purposes the latter is more ultimate, man's greater good, while the former is not necessary for the acquisition of the latter. The dominating proximate purpose of man must be to earn his title to eternal salvation: for that, if needs be, he must rationally sacrifice his temporal happiness.

State and Church

Does that sound like "guaranteeing equitable outcome"?

503 posted on 07/16/2004 4:41:06 AM PDT by Aquinasfan (Isaiah 22:22, Rev 3:7, Mat 16:19)
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