In discussions with people about economic matters, I often face the claim that the middle of the road "interventionist" mode is the pragmatic approach and that adhering to either ideological extreme (either socialism or laissez faire) is simply dogmatic.
How do I respond to such a claim? It sounds so reasonable, doesn't it? Only extremists occupy ideological positions. Inevitably, they will be dogmatic about their beliefs. The pragmatist does not cling to any ideology, is willing to consider any proposal on it's own merits.
The pragmatist must be reasonable and right because he ocuppies the middle ground.
make sure they're not closet utilitarians first. many self professed pragmatists that I have met have been of this persuation: i.e. once pressed to define 'what works' they belie their utilitarian leanings e.g. what works = best for the public good, or something such (and every thing else including moral positions are subsumed under this over arching, unsupported goal).
Not a guarunteed solution but often seems to be the case and easy to undermine in my personal experience.
Here's a snappy comeback.
"Pragmatic" is a just a four-letter codeword that means, "will flip-flop on any topic for personal gain".
~jaq
Fried Egg: In discussions with people about economic matters, I often face the claim that the middle of the road "interventionist" mode is the pragmatic approach and that adhering to either ideological extreme (either socialism or laissez faire) is simply dogmatic. How do I respond to such a claim? It sounds so reasonable, doesn't it?
How do I respond to such a claim? It sounds so reasonable, doesn't it?
On the contrary; when an opponent appeals to "the impracticality of the alternative" to justify intervention, it is far more likely that he simply lacks the intellectual credentials to imagine that the market might be able to repair itself, or that the intervention is merely superficial and will in the long run cause far greater harm than the good it aims to achieve. It is really the pragmatist who is being dogmatic, though he bases his reasoning on popular fallacies and fear of uncertainty rather than principle.
Diminishing Marginal Utility - IT'S THE LAW!
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