Libertarianism: The Libertarian Debate Sandel

The Libertarian Debate In 1971, a political ideology known as Libertarianism was established as an official political party of the United States. This method of thinking was in no way revolutionary, libertarian thought was well known amongst political philosophers, and in America, had been popular ideology since the early 1920’s. This philosophy claims that supremacy of individual rights, as well as a minimalistic government are essential and this supposed government should exists mainly to protect the people’s rights. It continues to say that people should be able to do as they wish as long as the individual’s rights do not impede on other citizens (Libertarianism 2014). Libertarians are also firm believers in the free market, an economic

Author Michael Sandel explores this ideology when he presents the debate of assisted suicide. Sandel uses the example of Dr. Jack Kevorkian, a Michigan doctor that helped 130 people end their lives before he was charged and convicted of second-degree murder (Justice 72). Although assisted suicide is illegal throughout most of the United States, should it be? The author uses the word “Helped” when he describes Dr. Death’s crimes. Was he truly just helping those that wanted to end their own lives, but were unable to? Libertarian ideals suggest that the individual’s life belongs to them, and so they should be able to decide if they wish to die or not. According to this philosophy, Kevorkian was perhaps obligated to aid these people, as it was their own right to die and they sought out assistance in doing so. Sandel presents the libertarian idea, “If my life belongs to me, I should be free to give it up. And if I enter into a voluntary agreement with someone to help me die, the state has no right to interfere” (Justice 73). This political system would not have found Kevorkian guilty for murder, in fact this system would require him to fulfill his duties in helping a person end their own life. Although Americans accustomed to a democratic system of government may be appalled by these “crimes”, is it

In the American Democracy, incentives are an essential foundation of a successful economy. Libertarianism is similar in this respect in that it is a necessary aspect of an efficient free market. Friedman continues in his essay to explain, “The system under which people to make their own choices- and bear most of the consequences of their decisions- is the system that has prevailed… It is the system that gave the Henry Fords, the Thomas Alva Edisons… the incentive to transform our society” (Justice: A Reader 55). This theory of incentives is essential to the Libertarian philosophy as it charges economic prosperity, and promotes personal responsibility of individual fortune. Political ideologies that reject this principle would suggest that everyone should be rewarded for working, but this causes the idea of incentives to become completely stagnant. Marxist theory claims that all people deserve to be given the same reward for putting in effort, but in the Libertarian mentality this opinion is directly opposed. It is individuals, unguarded by government institutions that are able to take charge and seize prosperity for themselves. Incentives and personal responsibility as a means of creating success are essential to the Libertarian