http://the-libertarian.co.uk/sean-gabb-interview/
Sean Gabb and Libertarianism
In the first of a series of interviews with leading libertarians, Dr Sean Gabb, Director of the Libertarian Alliance, discusses what libertarianism means to him. Dr Gabb is also author of around fifteen books (some novels, some poetry, others political) and has contributed to Lewrockwell.com and Vdare. The topics discussed in this interview include English reactionism and the ancient philosopher, Epicurus.
Keir Martland: Dr Gabb, thank you for agreeing to take part in this interview. Would you like to begin by saying how you arrived at libertarianism and what you mean by it?
Sean Gabb: To say that political opinions, or opinions about anything, are genetically determined would be absurd. However, I do believe that people are born with general dispositions that incline them to adopt certain opinions – or, when the range of known opinions is limited, to adapt certain opinions to their own nature. I think that is how it was with me. From my earliest childhood, I have never wanted to control others or to be controlled. I was brought up in a strongly Conservative family. That obviously influenced me. But I always found myself moving to the more liberal shades of conservatism. Also, I rejected socialism partly because it was The Other, but also because it struck me as a justification for control and even tyranny….. [More at
http://the-libertarian.co.uk/sean-gabb-interview/ ]
Discover more from The Libertarian Alliance
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
RE: “To say that political opinions, or opinions about anything, are genetically determined would be absurd.”
Sean,
While this might make intuitive sense, it certainly appears that (a) biases in favor of moral codes are predominantly genetic in origin, and (b) political movements, and therefore political parties, largely reflect moral biases.
So it’s not absurd, possibly, in the more tactical sense that you mean it, in practice, political affiliation appears to be MORE influenced by genetics than by any OTHER factor.
Or more precisely, we tend to favor political movements that reflect our reproductive strategies. As the nuclear family disintegrates this appears also to be accelerating.
Curt
But, Curt, we aren’t in disagreement. I spoke immediately after about genetic predispositions.
A very neat and concise interview here. It sets out in one place a broad outline of Mr. Gabb’s views, both political and philosphical, which were previously only available in bits and pieces in various articles. The parts dealing with how only English conservatism can be compatable with libertarianism are of particular interest. I shall favourite it.
Thanks.
Missed that Sean. 🙂 Cheers
-Curt
[…] by John Kersey A diagrammatic representation of Hoppe’s paleolibertarian system by John Kersey Sean Gabb Interviewed by Keir Martland Kevin Carson on Authority: A Reply by David McDonagh Is Libertarianism “Unfair”? by D.J. Webb […]
[…] John Kersey A diagrammatic representation of Hoppe’s paleolibertarian system by John Kersey Kevin Carson on Authority: A Reply by David McDonagh Is Libertarianism “Unfair”? by D.J. […]