Tom G. Palmer

What libertarians assert is simply that differences among normal adults do not imply different fundamental rights. ↗

— Tom G. Palmer

#assert #differences #different #fundamental #fundamental rights

Abstraction is a mental process we use when trying to discern what is essential or relevant to a problem; it does not require a belief in abstract entities. ↗

— Tom G. Palmer

#abstraction #belief #discern #does #entities

But there is no obvious reason for holding that some normal adults are entitled to make choices for other normal adults, as paternalists of both left and right believe. ↗

— Tom G. Palmer

#both #choices #entitled #holding #left

Equality of rights means that some people cannot simply impose obligations on others, for the moral agency and rights of those others would then be violated. ↗

— Tom G. Palmer

#cannot #equality #impose #means #moral

Group personification obscures, rather than illuminates, important political questions. ↗

— Tom G. Palmer

#illuminates #important #obscures #personification #political

Guardians are necessary for children and abnormal adults, because they cannot make responsible choices for themselves. ↗

— Tom G. Palmer

#because #cannot #children #choices #guardians

If an individual is born with the obligation to obey, who is born with the right to command? ↗

— Tom G. Palmer

#command #individual #obey #obligation #right

It is obvious that different individuals require different things to live good, healthy, and virtuous lives. ↗

— Tom G. Palmer

#different things #good #healthy #individuals #live

It is precisely because neither individuals nor small groups can be fully self-sufficient that cooperation is necessary to human survival and flourishing. ↗

— Tom G. Palmer

#cooperation #flourishing #fully #groups #human

Libertarians recognize the difference between adults and children, as well as differences between normal adults and adults who are insane or mentally hindered or retarded. ↗

— Tom G. Palmer

#children #difference #differences #hindered #insane