The to and fro’ between Ambrose99 and IainGFoulds caught my attention, especially when Ambrose99 wrote: “I’m all with you on liberty. Our difference is whether socialism or capitalism grants the most liberty.” I just had to respond. What follows is a slightly polished version of what I posted in the Comments to Gerry’s Full Comment post.

Iain and Ambrose, clearly, are using different definitions of the word “freedom” (actually, they use the word “liberty”, but it is clear that they are not thereby excluding life or property, so I will stick to the more broad term “freedom”).

By freedom, Iain means (this is my definition, but I suspect he agrees with it): control over ones own life, liberty and property. In contrast, Ambrose is using the collectivist definition of “freedom”: control over other peoples’ life, liberty and property; also known as murder, slavery, and expropriation.

As Iain means it, “freedom” makes it possible for one to achieve ones own happiness. As Ambrose means it, “freedom” makes it possible to become comfortable numb; to nullify ones pain and suffering which, for almost every collectivist (who has rarely achieved much at all, never mind happiness), is erroneously thought to be “happiness”.

As Iain means it, “freedom” is that condition which facilitates rational conduct, and allows man’s indispensible tool of survival – his rational faculty – to perform its role. As Ambrose means it, “freedom” is that condition which makes rational conduct difficult or impossible, and which renders rational thought pointless.

As Iain means it, a “free” society is one in which all interactions between rational people are consensual. As Ambrose means it, a “free” society is one in which consent is no more relevant than rational thought.

As Iain means it, “freedom” is the natural result of loving human nature. As Ambrose means it, “freedom” is the result of hating human nature.

About Reason’s Harvest

Reason’s Harvest is a holiday which I founded and first celebrated on November 23, 2007. My intention and hope is that it be celebrated by rational people world-wide, annually, on the first Friday following the U.S. Thanksgiving Thursday. In 2008, Reason’s Harvest will be celebrated on November 28, 2008.

Reason’s Harvest is celebrated by both earning as much as one can earn on that day by honest, rational activity and spending ones own earnings on things one rationally values more than the money paid in exchange. The purpose of the holiday is to celebrate reason (humankind’s sole means of obtaining knowledge of the facts of reality) and rationality. By focusing upon the production of material values, and upon trading them for things valued even more, each individual uses Reason’s Harvest not only to pursue his or her own happiness, but to do so conspicuously, as a demonstration to others both of the purpose of ones life (to pursue ones own happiness), and the virtue of rationality. In the process, productive creation by means of rational human thought and action is championed and rational producers/creators are admired.

The spirit of Reason’s Harvest is summed up in a holiday greeting I have created for Reason’s Harvest: “Go Thank Yourself!“. It is a greeting that recognizes that each person is responsible for his own happiness such that, if one achieves happiness, one has oneself to thank (and, usually, only oneself to thank).

About Reason’s Harvest in 2008

In the weeks and months leading up to the celebration of Reason’s Harvest in 2008, the newly-registered reasonsharvest.com web site will be developed into a more contemporarily-styled one, offering ideas and products to help you maximize your enjoyment of Reason’s Harvest this year and in all future years. As just one example, I hope to make available for purchase a Reason’s Harvest tee-shirt identical to the one I wore on the first celebration of Reason’s Harvest (November 23, 2007).

In the meantime, please bookmark reasonsharvest.com and forward the URL to all of the rational individuals you know. Your ideas, and theirs are welcome and encouraged. Let’s make Reason’s Harvest a great – and conspicuous – one in 2008.