Libertarian Land Philosophy:
Man's Eternal Dilemma
Oscar B. Johannsen, Ph.D.
BOOK IX: ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Chapter 2 - Law of Human Progress
Men can use the Law of Human Progress wisely or unwisely. If they
adapt themselves to it, they will progress. If they do not, they will
retrogress.
What is this law?
The Law of Human progress states that for men to progress they must
associate freely with one another on terms of equality.
How simple. Nothing really new. All of us have known it though we may
never have put it in words before. That man could never rise above
that of a crude savage unless he associated with his fellowmen is so
obvious that it hardly needs mentioning.
Robinson Carusoe, though he had the benefit of the finest education
of his time, and though the shipwrecked vessel yielded to him many of
the latest tools and devices, could make little progress by himself.
How could he develop mentally with no opportunity to have discourse
with other men? That competition which whets the mental appetite was
lacking. For him, life was barely above that of the crudest primitive.
Had not Friday appeared on the scene, he might have gone hopelessly
mad.
To advance mentally, spiritually and materially, men must associate
with each other. However, the association must be on terms of
equality, that is, on terms of equality of rights. If the relationship
is one of master to slave, while there may be some gains, some
increase in production, as well as some mental and spiritual benefits,
they will be limited. It is only when men consort with one another on
terms of equality that their association proves to be the optimum
possible. If a man is subservient to another, it is difficult for him
to disagree and to express his own views forcefully, or to point out
the other's errors.
Equality does not mean equal income, or equal physical and mental
attributes for such is impossible and not even desirable. Men are
different from one another. Not all men acquire fame as champions;
only a few attain that status. But all men have capacities, and the
combination of such abilities in each man is unique. These talents can
be exercised to the optimum degree possible only when men freely
associate with one another on terms of equality.
By equality is meant equal rights; equal rights to read, write, speak
and assemble as men please; equal rights to be free to do as one
pleases as long as one does not interfere with another's equal freedom
to do as he pleases; equal rights to the opportunities of the
universe.
When men are constricted by a host of rules and regulations, when
some are treated as though they were better than others and given
special privileges, then all suffer. If the son of a porter is forced
to become a porter though he has the ability to be a fine writer, not
only does he lose, but so does society. How many men might have become
great inventors, writers, scholars and businessmen had they been
permitted to make use of their talents as they wished and to associate
with their fellowmen on terms of equality will never be known.
Probably all of the ancient and feudal kingdoms inhibited, if they
did not forbid, many of their inhabitants from developing. Every now
and then, one of those treated as a non-equal, despite the almost
insurmountable barriers breaks through them and his work is a shining
example of what others in his station might have done. Aesop, the
slave, whose wizardry with the pen gave to the world imperishable
fables, is like the resplendent tip of the iceberg standing
majestically above the sea. And beneath the surface, how much more
numerous were the talents which were never permitted to see the light
of day for mankind to enjoy.
Our American civilization has risen to grander heights than any
previously known because here men adhered more closely to the Law of
Human Progress than in any other nation possessed of such a vast
extent of land.
Those who braved the perilous Atlantic to reach the virgin forest of
America found themselves in a land tenanted by a relatively small
number of people. Here, a fortuitous combination of circumstances
fostered unconscious adherence to this great law.
To begin with, the forbidding and unknown forests forced them to
associate with one another on more or less terms of equality even if
some arrived with positions of authority and wealth, which might
otherwise have separated them from the rest. The limitations of travel
and communication made it difficult for the powerful European nations
to enforce any class distinctions. In addition, about that time
profound thinkers had arisen in Europe, as John Locke and Adam Smith.
The works of such geniuses on political, social and economic freedom
significantly influenced American thought.
And one can hardly overestimate the influence that the
Judeo-Christian ethic, with its emphasis on the dignity of the
individual, had on nurturing the belief that as all men are equal in
the eyes of God, they should associate one with the other on terms of
equality, in peace and harmony. Whereas in the jail-like economies of
Europe, these principles were smothered under layers of laws,
traditions and customs, in traditionless America they burst forth with
astounding effects.
Americans, thus, tended to live in harmony with the Law of Human
Progress to a greater degree than did others. It can hardly be said
that they were completely in accord with it, by any means. Slavery was
the most hideously conspicuous denial of it. Though this gravest of
injustice was perpetrated against a minority of the people,
nonetheless it had its debilitating effects. The South has ever since
rued the day this infamous institution gained a foothold there, for it
was probably the principal reason it never matched the advances of the
North, where slavery was not generally practiced.
And, of course, unfortunately, the settlers brought over with them
the error which had grown up over a period of several hundred years
and which still persists. This was to reduce the good earth to private
ownership. Though it was attenuated somewhat as there was so much land
that its price was relatively low, still Americans have paid and are
still paying a bitter price for this lapse.
Today, America is retrograding. Laws have been piled sky-high
inhibiting the association of the people freely with one another on
equal terms. Monopolies have been granted to this or to that pressure
group. The farmer is babied with subsidies, price supports, guarantees
and hampered by acreage and marketing controls. The laborer is
protected by minimum wages, unemployment insurance, and practically
forced into unions. The physician is granted a monopoly and coerced
into medicare and medicaid.
Turn wherever you may, and you will see a horde of grasping
favor-seekers , like so many locusts, descending on the State with
pleas for restrictions of one sort or another. The excuse which is
always given with much breast beating is to "protect" the
public. The real reason is to protect the favor-seekers from
competition.
To many Americans do not ask for equal treatment but for unequal
treatment. They desire superior rights to those of their
fellow-citizens to engage in certain fields of endeavor, to obtain
higher prices, to obtain favors from the State.
They do not wish to associate on terms of equality. As a consequence,
the bonds of association are loosened. Americans are disassociating
from one another. Antagonism is the order of the day. Labor is hostile
to business. The unfavored businessmen war with the privileged ones.
Consumers fight producers. Chiropractors combat the allopathic and
homeopathic physicians.
The forces of retrogression are in ascendancy. Inequality and
disassociation are the criteria of the day, not equality and
association. The breakdown of society appears inexplicably puzzling.
Riots flare ever more frequently and more violently. Prejudice grows
ever more virulent; fear of each other grows ever greater. Many, in
despair, retreat from the reality of life into the dream-induced
heaven of drugs and other forms of escapism. And men everywhere cry
out -- why?
They have forgotten, or never knew, that for men to progress they
must associate freely with one another on terms of equality.
Can the retrogression be stopped? Only if men will once again adhere
to the law. Will they? It is for the reader to say.
Recapitulation
The Law of Human progress states that for men to progress they must
associate freely with one another on terms of equality.
As long as men abide by this law, the civilization they create will
grow ever greater.
As men have free will, they may live in accord with this law or not,
as they choose. There is nothing inevitable in the continual rise of
civilization. On the contrary, what is inevitable is that if this law
is not followed, civilization will decline.
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