Tuesday, April 13, 2004

Niches and Freedom

Tyler Cowan, recently writing in Forbes about high and low culture, evokes the idea of plenitude. High vs. low is irrelevant when contrasted with the large range of choices now available so widely to so many.

The most auspicious questions of this season revolve around the international role and actions of the U.S. They are described as promoting democracy, liberty and freedom. While there is an interesting discussion going on among scholars about how and why political freedom and economic freedom can or should be coincident, it is safe to say that powerful evidence for the integrity of individuals being recognized and respected is the plenitude of material choices that free markets offer them.

It is profound but not acknowledged in polite (political) company.