Murray N. Rothbard vs. the Philosophers - Ludwig von Mises Institute

REVIEWS AND COMMENTS BY MURRAY N. ROTHBARD 55
Well, there you are. The “stronger” has won; the
“weaker” has lost; but with him was lost the faint precious
stirrings of a civilized culture. Where does morality stand on
this issue? Has “good” triumphed? Does might make right?
Does morality mean barbarism? As far I am concerned, the
answer to these questions is a ringing nay!
The Rugged Individualist who gave three lusty cheers on
the Ug victory is thus sadly deficient in moral sense. His theory
of ethics is on the level of an intolerant barbarian.
3. The Glorification of Struggle
The Rugged Individualist glorifies struggle and condemns
the easy path. Since the whole process of civilization has
been the cumulative attempt to make it easier to satisfy
man’s desires, the Rugged Individualist is of necessity
opposed to civilization. We consider man as progressing
when he invents ever new ways to “reduce costs” which is
simply the process of finding easier ways to satisfy man’s
ever-growing desires.
I consider one of the glories of economic freedom and individualism
(not rugged, but humane) the ever-growing standard
of living, the magnificent increase in opportunities for
leisure, and the development of life-giving modern medicine.
I consider it a tribute to the moral qualities of an individualist
society that private charity and philanthropy helps the
unfortunate people in our midst. Private philanthropy is the
direct expression of the great Christian principle of the
brotherhood of man and the Golden Rule.
Private philanthropy indeed is the only valid expression of
these Christian ethical principles; compulsory charity
through “social legislation” is the exact contrary: it is the
evil imposition of force by one group on another. Christ was
a great individualist not because He was rugged, as Dr. Cutten
seems to think, but because He recognized that His great
ethical principles could only be put into effect through the voluntary
action of individuals and not by a self-appointed group