Why Libertarianism?

Why Libertarianism?

People in the earlier period have this conundrum on what is better between Utilitarianism and Libertarianism. Both of these beliefs are opposed to each other. Utilitarianism suggests that a morally good action is one that helps the greatest number of people while Libertarianism says that each one of us has an inherent right on liberty that cannot be exchange with the benefit of the greatest number of people. But which of these two is better? Because of this feud, I came up with this paper. I shall argue why libertarianism makes better governing philosophy of human beings than the utilitarianism.

First, Libertarianism is a political philosophy that affirms the rights of individuals to liberty, to acquire, to keep, and exchange their holdings, and considers the protection of individual rights the primary role for the state (Vallentyn, Peter and van der Vossen, Bas, “Libertarianism”, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2014 Edition), Edward N. Zalta ). Moreover, Libertarian’s theory says that man is entitled of himself, his work, and his time and man is responsible for these things and no one should interfere and control of them than himself. While Utilitarianism imposes the morality of “utility” and it is focused on the greatest good for the greatest number. However, as long as it benefits many, utilitarianism does not sufficiently respect the fact that persons are separate according to Both Rawls and Nozick.

Second, Utilitarianism says that it is morally permissible, even necessary to kill terminally ill patients. Libertarianism, in that case does not allow it to kill a person for it has its right to live whether he/she may be a terminally ill patient.

Third, Libertarians hold that the free market is inherently unjust, and redistributive taxation violates people’s property rights. (W. Kymlicka, Contemporary Political Philosophy, pp. 102-103). Utilitarians, by contrast, are concerned with the promotion of the human welfare. Libertarians, however, ignores the future. They set aside the things which are going to happen and does not give enough attention to the immediate consequences of their principles but it gives importance on the characteristic of an action, while utilitarians also ignores the past, it focuses on the future or the consequence of an action no matter how good or bad an action is.

Libertarians are focused in the right of an individual.