The Importance of Art and Liberty
By Robert Anthony Peters
With all of the excellent, cogent arguments that libertarians have engineered, why have we not inspired the world? After all, we have some of the best explanations and prescriptions in economics, philosophy, and political theory – how have we not persuaded a majority at minimum to join us in our struggle for human liberation and prosperity? Why haven’t we “won” yet?
There is a wonderful story that Butler Shaffer tells of a debate between Murray Rothbard and Harold Demsetz at Claremont College in 1972. I will let Butler tell it: “Murray was insisting that moral and other philosophical values had to be given greater consideration in economic analysis than was the habit of most economists. Demsetz, as I recall, was making much the same response as the aforementioned economist when confronting my cost/benefit question. Murray was concerned with how to help young people understand that the study of economics was about something far more vivid than could be explained in terms of cost accounting. In a sentence I shall never forget, Murray said: ‘Harold, the young kids out there are not going to be willing to go to the barricades in defense of lowered transaction costs!’”
This magazine recognizes that. It understands that it wasn’t lessons on political theory from Locke or economics by Smith that rallied the flagging morale of the demoralized American troops at Valley Forge but a production of the play “Cato.” It understands that the Soviet Union was torn asunder in Estonia by their Singing Revolution. It understands that the destructive manifestations of the state will be expunged by our appeal to the soul of all our brothers and sisters throughout the world, not just their intellect.
In Jonathan Haidt’s research into the “psychological disposition” of libertarians, he concludes that we show “a relatively cerebral as opposed to emotional cognitive style.” This is wonderful and to be celebrated. Unfortunately, when our appeals are composed only for the enjoyment of our choir, we will not gain many converts. This magazine hopes to remedy that by appealing to your emotion and to the emotion of those not already on board with our message. It is a dire need in our movement, an opportunity that has needed filling for some time now.
In his epilogue to “Freedom Champions,” Brad Lips, CEO of the Altas Network finds the opportunity for growth by “cultural entrepreneurs” to be immense. “… We know that the novels of Ayn Rand – with their passionate sense of life, and harsh condemnation of the statist mindset – have attracted more advocates of liberty than any cost-benefit analysis. We need efforts to build an artistic movement that can complement our intellectual movement and broaden the appeal of the principles of a free society.”
That is why we are here today and it is what we have set out to do. The artistic movement is starting. We are the vanguard and we are headed to the barricades. Join us!