This interesting study misses the point that there are at least 2 types of libertarians:
(1) natural law and rights libertarians (this blogger), and
(2) Ayn Rand libertarians (objectivism).
Type 1 theoretically deals only with the relationship between persons and their governments. Type 2 also covers interpersonal relationships. Personal altruism has nothing to do with 1. Being puretype 1. does not influence personal characterisitics such as altruism. I consider myself a pure type 1 who is also altruistic. Other type 1's I know seem altruistic to me. Altruism comes into play only in interpersonal relationships. The findings on altruism apply only to Rand libertarians. I suspect that there are more "libertarians" of type 2 than 1. Of course there may be libertarians who are both 1's and 2's and perhaps other categories. An interesting, but flawed study that mixes 2 distinct groups together and misses important points. Any libertarians out there who care to comment?
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