I am not going to here portray the free state utopia of the
libertarian imagination, but instead will explore the logic of the
libertarianism, by testing its “free state” and “oppressive state” categories
in extreme cases selected for the purpose of bringing the logic of the theory
to the surface.
Where we left off shipwrecked Ann, whom I have called a
“left- libertarian,” has not been able to convince shipwrecked right-libertarian
Bob that it’s only his wrongheaded ideology that makes him want to paddle away
from Isle One, with its easier and more abundant life, towards Isle Two.
Shipwreck survivors on unknown islands are beloved by the
writers of fiction, by cartoonists, and also by philosophers. Crawling up the
beach on day on the island I have in mind were a "libertarian" Bob, and Ann,who might, for want of a better label, be
called a “left libertarian,” as will emerge. The pair were spotted by a
stranger who helped them into the shade of the nearest palm.