Murray N. Rothbard vs. the Philosophers - Ludwig von Mises Institute
Murray N. Rothbard vs. the Philosophers - Ludwig von Mises Institute
Murray N. Rothbard vs. the Philosophers - Ludwig von Mises Institute
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MURRAY N. ROTHBARD VS. THE PHILOSPHERS: UNPUBLISHED WRITINGS<br />
52 ON HAYEK, MISES, STRAUSS, AND POLYANI<br />
were <strong>the</strong> days of eliminating <strong>the</strong> unfit . . . crude . . .<br />
but effective. 7<br />
After hypnotizing himself into believing that he can gaze<br />
into a crystal ball and divine exactly what Nature is doing, who<br />
she is, and what her motives are, <strong>the</strong> Rugged Individualist<br />
<strong>the</strong>n returns to <strong>the</strong> cave, as in Plato, to advise us poor mortals<br />
who have not as yet “seen <strong>the</strong> light.” Horrors! He finds<br />
that men are violating Nature’s wishes and injunctions, that<br />
<strong>the</strong> unfit are being protected by “modern medicine and modern<br />
philanthropy” 8 and are debilitating <strong>the</strong> race by being permitted<br />
to live and have children. The Rugged Individualist<br />
reluctantly admits that he will never be able to convince us<br />
weaklings to abandon penicillin, hospitals, and soft armchairs.<br />
So, he very generously compromises and comes up<br />
with this magnificent solution: “<strong>the</strong> broadest application of<br />
sterilization.” In o<strong>the</strong>r words, <strong>the</strong> unfit will be magnanimously<br />
permitted to live, but not to pollute <strong>the</strong> racial stream.” Thus<br />
will our “responsibility for posterity” be fulfilled. 9<br />
That is <strong>the</strong> essence of Dr. Cutten’s <strong>the</strong>sis and <strong>the</strong> broad<br />
outlines of social Darwinism or rugged individualism. It<br />
seems to me that <strong>the</strong> mere statement of it would expose it<br />
as obvious bilge. Apparently not, however, since this philosophy<br />
had a considerable vogue, and Dr. Cutten apparently<br />
believes in it wholeheartedly. Demolition is <strong>the</strong>refore in<br />
order, although <strong>the</strong>re are so many fallacies it will be difficult<br />
to treat <strong>the</strong>m more than sketchily.<br />
1. The Absurd Mysticism about Nature<br />
First, I see no validity whatever in this making nature an<br />
anthropomorphic figure Nature. This mystic absurdity<br />
Nature apparently is cast in <strong>the</strong> image of man, with human<br />
feelings, desires, and attributes. She is strong, farseeing,<br />
7Ibid., p. 71.<br />
8Ibid., p. 70.<br />
9 Ibid.