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Monday, July 14, 2008
Magicians against utilitarianism
Penn Jillette, the bigger, louder, and cuddlier half of the skeptical libertarian magic duo Penn & Teller had an interesting reaction to some of the discussion following the DC vs. Heller decision.
In a recent post here at the Shotgun, Jaws talked about "the Reason/Cato/Penn & Teller kind of libertarians," that's a good grouping, not only because Penn and Teller are H.L. Mencken research fellows at the Cato Institute, but also because they, unlike many other libertarians, all generally share culturally liberal values (pro-gay, irreligious etc.). However, this video highlights a difference between Jillette's approach to libertarianism and the Cato approach.
Jaws explained that "Cato is interested in practical issues, and produces policy papers that are eminently practical, even if not always persuasive to the beltway crowd. Their approach is utilitarian: Defend individual liberty on the grounds that it is best for most, and try to prove this with inferences from the best available data." Penn says: "live free or die!"
Freedom lovers, science enthusiasts, and critical thinkers will be pleased to hear that Penn & Teller's TV series "Bullshit!" has entered its 6th season, making it the longest running program on the network. Episodes this season have called bullshit on the war on porn, new age medicine, NASA, and goofy beliefs about dolphins. You can catch the rest of the season on Showtime Thursday Friday nights at 10pm EST. Upcoming episodes will demolish and debunk conventional wisdom about the green movement and sensitivity training.
Posted by Kalim Kassam on July 14, 2008 | Permalink
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