,MELIORISM3 ,A ,CONTRIBUTION TO A ,LIB]T>IAN ,SYMPOSIUM 

#aifg 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,GEORGE ,MOLN> 

,TEXT 3 

0,MY CONT5TION IS ?AT ONE HAS TO WEI< ! SPECIAL CIRCUM/ANCE ( EA* CASE1 & CANNOT SAFELY GUIDE ONES' CONDUCT BY H>D-&-FA/ RULES :I* KN[ NO?+ ( ! CIRCUM/ANCES OR *>ACT] ( ! PEOPLE CONC]N$4 ,SURELY1 ! DUTY ( MAN IS NOT TO DO :AT HE CAN'T1 BUT TO DO ! BE/ HE CAN & ,I BELIEVE ?AT1 BY ADOPT+ AB/RACT RULES NEV] TO DO ?IS OR ?AT1 NEV] TO USE =CE1 OR MONEY OR SUPPORT A ,GOV]NM5T1 OR GO TO W>1 & BY 5CUMB]+ \T CONSCI5CES ) L9E UPON L9E & PRECEPT UPON PRECEPT1 WE BECOME LESS LIKELY TO BEHAVE REASONABLY & RI<TLY ?AN IF WE ATT5D$ MORE TO ?OSE NEXT /EPS1 ! WISDOM ( :I* CAN BE TE/$ 9 DAILY LIFE 4440 

,AYLM] ,MAUDE1 9 CRITICISM ( ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,?IS TALKS IS A PLEA = A REVISION ( ! RECEIV$ LIB]T>IAN ATTITUDE TO MELIORISM4 ,BY MELIORISM ,I UND]/& ATTEMPTS TO REM$Y OR RE=M SPECIFIC GRIEVANCES OR DEFECTS 9 A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY4 ,SOME ( :AT ,I HAVE TO SAY >OSE \T ( REFLECT+ ON A BOOK ( ESSAYS BY ,PAUL ,GOODMAN4 ,H[EV]1 ?IS IS NOT A PAP] ON ,GOODMAN4 ,I'LL REF] TO HIS VIEWS AT ! \TSET & ALSO MAKE EXEMPL>Y USE ( HIS WORK 9 SOME PLACES4 ,BUT MY MA9 9T]E/ IS 9 POSSIBLE LIB]T>IAN REACTIONS TO HIM1 & BEYOND ?AT1 9 ! /&>D LIB]T>IAN ATTITUDE TO MELIORISM4 

,GOODMAN CALLS HIMSELF A 0UTOPIAN SOCIOLOGI/10 MEAN+ ( C\RSE TO BE IRONICAL4 ,HE IS A SELF-CONFESS$ PRAGMATI/1 /RONGLY 9T]E/$ 9 PRACTICAL GOALS & 9 GETT+ ?+S DONE4 ,AL?\< AT HE>T HE IS A SOCIAL CRITIC1 HIS AV[$ 9T5TION IS TO COMB9E DE/RUCTIVE CRITICISM ) POSITIVE PROPOSALS :OSE ACCEPTANCE W\LD IMPROVE ! OBJECT ( CRITICISM OR EV5 REPLACE IT ALTOGE!R ) SOME?+ BETT]4 

0 ,I SEEM TO BE ABLE TO WRITE ONLY PRACTICALLY1 9V5T+ EXP$I5TS 444 ,MY WAY ( WRIT+ A BOOK ( SOCIAL !ORY HAS BE5 TO 9V5T COMMUNITY PLANS4 ,MY PSY*OLOGY IS A MANUAL ( !RAPEUTIC EX]CISE4 ,A LIT]>Y /UDY IS A MANUAL ( PRACTICAL CRITICISM4 ,A DISCUSSION ( HUMAN NATURE IS A PROGRAM ( P$AGOGICAL & POLITICAL RE=MS4 ,?IS PRES5T BOOK IS ON EXCEPTION4 ,IT IS A SOCIAL CRITICISM1 BUT ALMO/ 9V>IABLY 7EXCEPT 9 MOM5TS ( 9DIGNATION7 ,I F9D ,I KN[ :AT ,I DON'T LIKE ONLY BY CONTRA/ ) SOME CONCRETE PROPOSAL ?AT MAKES S5SE4 0 7P4 #a#d7 

,GOODMAN IS NOT 9 ! TRADITION ( #a#h? & #a#i? C5TURY RE=M]S :O W]E OBSESS$ ) ! IDEA ( A ,GR& ,PLAN TO CURE ALL ILLS ( MANK9D AT ONE /ROKE & =EV]4 ,HIS ?\<T IS !RE=E NOT TO BE COMP>$ TO CLASSICAL AN>*ISM1 = HE SEEMS 9T]E/$ SOLELY 9 PIECEMEAL RE=MS & *ANGES4 ,9 MOD]N ,AM]ICAN SOCIETY ?9K+ M5 >E FAC$ ) A MORAL DILEMMA3 

0,IT IS ONLY BY ! USUAL TE*NOLOGICAL & ORGANIZATIONAL PROC$URES ?AT ANY?+ CAN BE ACCOMPLI%$4 ,BUT ) !SE PROC$URES1 & ! MOTIVES & P]SONALITIES ?AT BELONG TO !M1 FRE% 9ITIATIVE IS DISC\RAG$ & FUNDAM5TAL *ANGE IS PREV5T$40 7PAGE #i7 

,GOODMAN REJECTS ! G5]AL VALIDITY ( ! PREMISES =M :I* ?IS PESSIMI/IC CONCLUSION IS DRAWN1 ,HE BELIEVES ?AT ! %ORTCOM+ S & DEFECTS ( ! SOCIETY 9 :I* HE LIVES >E 9 P>T DUE NOT TO ! ABS5CES ( BETT] ALT]NATIVES BUT TO AN UNWILL+NESS S]I\SLY TO CONSID] & ACCEPT C]TA9 POLICIES -- ! POLICIES TO :I* HE GIVES ! FRI5DLY-IRONIC LABEL 0UTOPIAN40 ,?IS UNWILL+NESS IS ITSELF NOT AN ALTOGE!R UN*ANGEABLE1 ROCK-H>D SOCIAL FACT 9 ,GOODMAN'S VIEW1 ,RESI/ANCE TO NOVELTY OR TO PROPOSALS :I* >E OR SEEM RADICAL & DI/URB+1 CAN ITSELF BE /UDI$ & UND]/OOD1 & SOMETIMES OV]COME4 ,GOODMAN1 CONSCI\S ?AT ALL IS NOT = ! BE/ 9 ! BE/ ( ALL POSSIBLE WORLDS1 BELIEVES ?AT 0SOME?+ CAN BE DONE AB\T IT60 ,HE ?9KS ?AT !RE EXI/ MEANS :I*1 )\T BE+ SELF-DEFEAT+1 >E APT TO FUR!R MODE/ BUT CONSEQU5TIAL 5DS4 ,HE CALLS !M 0EXP$I5TS40 ,& REM9DS US ( ,GOE!'S OBJECTIVE3 0JU/ TO LIVE ON A LITTLE440 ,! CONTRA/ ) ,M>XI/-HI/ORICI/ BELIEFS 9 ! IMPOSSIBILITY ( RE=M )9 CAPITALISM C\LD H>DLY BE MORE COMPLETE4 

,H[ DO LIB]T>IANS REACT TO ALL ?IS8 ,DIFF]5CES ( 9T]E/ BETWE5 ,GOODMAN & LIB]T>IANS >E OBVI\S 5\<4 ,HE IS MU* MORE CA?OLIC 9 HIS 9T]E/S ?AN WE >E4 ,HE IS CONC]N$ ) T[N & COMMUNITY PLANN+1 ) ! ES!TIC QUALITY ( LIFE & ! SURR\NDS ( ACTIVITIES2 HE IS 9T]E/$ 9 ! TE*NOLOGY & ADM9I/RATION ( $UCATION2 9 VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE2 9 PSY*O!RAPY2 9 Y\? CAMPS2 & 9 MANY O!R ?+S :I* >E TO ! LIB]T>IAN-9-!-/REET >E EI!R SO MANY UNKN[NS OR ELSE HOBBIES TO BE PURSU$ UN(FICIALLY4 ,SOME ( HIS PREOCCUPATIONS >E !N AB 9ITIO QUITE UNLIKELY TO >\SE MU* 5?USIASM 9 \R QU>T]S4 ,NEV]!LESS WE %\LD NOT OV]/RESS ! DIFF]5CES4 ,= ,GOODMAN IS AMONG O!R ?+S AN ANTI-MILIT>I/1 A CRITIC ( SUP]/ITI\S IDEOLOGIES1 AN ADVOCATE ( SEXUAL FRE$OM & ( FRE$OM ( EXPRESSION4 ,WE DO HAVE A LOT 9 COMMON ) :AT ANIMATES ! MAN4 ,9 ANY CASE IF ?IS W]E LESS TRUE1 LIB]T>IANS1 9 VIEW ( ALL !IR SOCIAL !ORY1 W\LD /ILL HAVE TO ACCEPT & MEET ! *ALL5GE ( DEF9+ !IR ATTITUDE TO A RE=M] ( ! ,GOODMAN MOLD4 ,WE CAN H>DLY IGNORE HIM JU/ BECAUSE HIS 9T]E/S DIFF] FROM \R [N ON MANY PO9TS4 

,I 5VISAGE ! /&>D LIB]T>IAN RESPONSE TO ,GOODMAN AS A APPLICATION TO A P>TICUL> CASE ( \T G5]AL DOCTR9E ( ANTI-RE=MISM4 ,?US ,I EXPECT MANY LIB]T>IANS W\LD BE CRITICAL ( ,GOODMAN'S /YLE ( ?9K+1 HIS PRAGMATISM4 ,& ,I DO NOT MEAN H]E CRITICISM ( HIS EXCESSES1 HIS OCCASIONAL BLUND]S & OV]-ALL SUP]FICIALITY4 ,I MEAN A DEEP-SEAT$ AV]SION4 ,! REASONS = ?IS AV]SION FALL 9TO ?REE R\< CATEGORIES4 ,ONE1 !RE IS ?\<T ?AT MELIORISM IS 9EFFECTIVE3 IT REGUL>LY OR *>ACT]I/ICALLY FAILS ( ITS 9T5D$ EFFECTS1 ESPECIALLY :5 ! 9T5D$ EFFECTS >E G5U9ELY LIB]AL4 ,TWO1 9 ADDITION TO 9EFFECTIV5ESS & P]HAPS MORE IMPORTANT ?AN IT1 MELIORISM REGUL>LY G5]ATES UN9T5D$ & UNWANT$ EFFECTS :I* BLI<T ! HOPE ( RE=M]S TO HAVE A*IEV$ A NET IMPROVEM5T 9 ! WORLD BY !IR EF=TS4 ,F9ALLY1 ! RESULT ( MELIORISM WILL BE CONFUSION 9 ! M9D & BEHAVIOR ( ! RE=M]3 HIS 5DS1 BE+ 9 CONFLICT1 WILL FALL 9TO DIS>RAY4 ,& IT IS PR$ICTABLE ?AT 9 SU* AN EV5TUALITY HE WILL LET GO ( HIS LIB]AL 9T5TIONS BE=E LETT+ GO ( HIS PRACTICAL /RIV+S4 

,LET ME CONSID] !SE PO9TS 9 TURN 7& NOT JU/ ) SPECIAL REF]5CE TO ,GOODMAN74 ,MY G5]AL L9E WILL BE TO SUGGE/ ?AT !SE CRITICISMS >E SEV]ELY OV]/AT$ & EXAGG]AT$ AD ?AT ! ANTI-MELIORISM TO :I* !Y ADD UP IS !RE=E TOO 9DISCRIM9ATE4 

,9 CONSID]+ ! *>GE ( 9EFFECTIV5ESS 7UTOPIANISM 9 ! UNFRI5DLY S5SE7 WE %\LD DI/+UI% ! TE*NICAL IMPOSSIBILITY ( PROPOS$ POLITICS FROM !IR UNSUITABILITY TO ! AUDI5CE4 ,BY TE*NICAL IMPOSSIBILITY ,I MEAN ?AT !RE >E1 AT ! TIME & PLACE 9 QUE/ION1 NO PHYSICAL1 TE*NOLOGICAL1 OR ECONOMIC MEANS TO ! 5DS 5VISAG$1 NOR >E !RE ANY MEANS TO ! MEANS4 ,DEFECTS UND] ! SECOND HEAD+ 9CLUDE ! FOLL[+3 

,!RE IS NO 7EFFECTIVE7 AUDI5CE E4G4 ,DOMA9 ORATORY4 

,IT IS ! WRONG 7IRRELEVANT1 IMPOT5T7 AUDI5CE4 ,GOODMAN HIMSELF PROVIDES ! EXAMPLE3 !RE IS SOME?+ DI/9CTLY ODD AB\T PROPAG&A = CIVIC & POLITICAL PROPOSALS BE+ DISSEM9AT$ 9 LIT]>Y J\RNALS4 

,!RE >E REASONS TO BELIEVE ?AT ! POLICY IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO ! 7RI<T7 AUDI5CE4 

,IT W\LD BE PAT5TLY ABSURD TO >GUE ?AT ALL PROPOSALS = RE=M >E TE*NICALLY IMPOSSIBLE4 ,MO/ ( !M1 AT ANY RATE MO/ ( !SE N[ADAYS PUT =W>DS BY RADICALS1 DISS5T]S1 LIB]ALS & DEMOCRATIC SOCIALI/S 9 \R TIMES >E NOT 9 ?IS CLASS4 ,9 ANY CASE !RE IS NO RATIONAL WAY ( JUDG+ ! MATT] A PRIORI4 ,! POSSIBILITY OR IMPOSSIBILITY ( PROPOSALS MU/ BE ASSESS$ AS !Y COME UP1 9 ! LI<T ( ! SITUATION TO :I* !Y >E MEANT TO APPLY4 ,SOME:AT MORE GU>D$LY ! SAME CAN BE SAID AB\T ! UNACCEPTABILITY ( MELIORI/ PROPOSALS4 ,:E!R A POLICY IS OR IS NOT ACCEPTABLE IS SOMETIMES A MORE OR LESS OP5 QUE/ION :I* CAN BE SETTL$ CONCLUSIVELY ONLY BY PUTT+ ! POLICY =W>D & SEE+ ! PUBLIC REACTION4 7,GOODMAN IMPLIES ?IS :5 HE CALLS HIS UTOPIAN PROPOSALS 0HYPO!SES407 ,PRESC9D+ FROM QUE/IONS ( UNC]TA9TY !RE IS A SECOND PO9T TO BE MADE H]E4 ,SUPPOSE A PROPOSAL PASSES ALL REASONABLE TE/S1 O!R ?AN ACCEPTABILITY TO ! APPROPRIATE AUDI5CE4 ,IS ADVOCACY ( SU* A POLICY UNREALI/IC SIMPLY BECAUSE IT IS NOT IMM$IATELY ACCEPTABLE TO ?OSE CONC]N$8 ,! ANSW] IS NOT ALWAYS YES4 ,IF ! POLICY 9 QUE/ION IS NOT ( !E N[-OR-NEV] TYPE1 IF1 ?AT IS1 IMM$IATE ACCEPTANCE & IMPLEM5TATION IS NOT ( ITS ESS5CE1 !N EV5 IF IT IS N[ UNACCEPTABLE !RE MAY BE SOME PO9T ( ADVOCAT+ ! POLICY DESPITE OPPOSITION OR 9DIFF]5CE4 

,?R\< ADVOCAT+ ! POLICY AT A C]TA9 TIME SOME ANALOGY TO IT1 OR SOME P>T ( IT1 MAY BECOME MORE PROBABLE ?AN O!RWISE1 ESPECIALLY AT SOME SUBSEQU5T TIME4 ,WE KN[ ?AT MANY PIECEMEAL *ANGES >E ! RESULT ( ! CUMULATIVE IMPACT ( ADVOCACY 7& O!R ?+S7 SPREAD OV] A P]IOD4 ,NOR IS IT NECESS>Y ?AT !SE EFFECTS ( ONE'S ADVOCACY %\LD BE ESPECIALLY CALCULABLE4 

,9ASMU* AS ! UNACCEPTABILITY ( A POLICY IS BAS$ ON REASONS1 ! ADVOCACY MAY L[] ! 9ITIAL UNACCEPTABILITY4 ,! ADVOCACY ( POLICIES MAY HAVE AN $UCATIONAL EFFECT4 

,ADVOCAT+ A POLICY 9 PUBLIC MAY DISCLOSE MORE PRECISELY ! OB/ACLES TO IT4 ,FREQU5TLY ! RE=M] OR W\LD-BE RE=M] />TS (F ) GUESSES AB\T ! ACCEPTABILITY ( HIS S*EMES1 & HE MAY TE/ HIS GUESSES ) ADVOCACY4 ,! 9/ITUTIONS & SOCIAL =CES ( \R 5VIRONM5T >E NOT ALWAYS TRANSP>5T 9 !IR WORK+S1 SOMETIMES WE CAN F9D \T !IR RESPONSES ONLY BY /IMULAT+ !M4 

,F9ALLY1 TAKE A POLICY :I* IS O!RWISE FUTILE 9 ! =ESEEABLE FUTURE4 ,SU* A POLICY JU/ BY BE+ 0ON ! BOOKS0 MAY S]VE AS AN IDEAL OR /&>D BY :I* TO JUDGE & EVALUATE ACTUAL OR PROPOS$ ALT]NATIVES4 7,?IS MI<T BE ! RESIDUAL TRU? 9 ,OSC> ,WILDE'S MAXIM ON UTOPIA47 

,?\< IT HAS BE5 SAID1 ,I HOPE1 TO %[ ?AT ! SLOGAN 0 RE=M IS ALWAYS 9EFFECTIVE0 WILL NOT S]VE AS AN ADEQUATE BASIS = A G5]AL CONDEMNATION ( MELIORISM4 

,JOHN ,&]SON CLAIM$ ?AT 

0 444 ! WELL-9T5TION$ RE=M] ALWAYS PRODUCES RESULTS :I* HE DID NOT ANTICIPATE1 HELPS ON T5D5CIES TO :I* HE IS AV[$LY OPPOS$40 

,P]HAPS ?IS CLAIM IS TRUE1 BUT ONLY 9 A S5SE TOO WIDE TO BE USEFUL4 ,ALL SOCIAL ACTION MAY HAVE 9CALCULABLE CONSEQU5CES BUT :AT WE WANT TO KN[1 9 ! PRES5T CONTEXT1 IS :E!R MELIORI/ ACTION IS ESPECIALLY PRONE TO HAVE SIDE-EFFECTS4 ,PROTE/1 AFT] ALL1 CAN & SOMETIMES HAVE UNPLANN$ & UNWELCOME \TCOMES1 = 9/ANCE ! /R5G!N+ ( REPRESSIVE LAWS1 BUT ?IS FACT CANNOT S]I\SLY BE TAK5 AS A GLOBAL OBJECTION TO PROTE/+1 ,I DON'T ?9K ! POSITION ( RE=M]S IS ESS5TIALLY DIFF]5T FROM ?AT ( PROTE/]S1 AL?\< !RE MAY BE DIFF]5CES ( DEGREE4 ,!RE IS P]HAPS MORE RISK 9 PROMOT+ RE=MS3 IT IS MORE CALCULABLE ?AT RE=MS WILL HAVE 9CALCULABLE EFFECTS ?AN IT IS ?AT PROTE/S WILL4 ,! DEGREE ( RISK WILL DEP5D ON ! SORT ( PLANS ADVOCAT$1 ! TIMES & PLACES & /YLES ( ADVOCACY1 & O!R FACTORS4 ,A GREAT DEAL ( DIFF]5CE IS MADE BY !SE DETAILS4 ,?AT IS :Y ! >GUM5T FROM UN9T5D$ CONSEQU5CES IS NOT A KNOCK-D[N >GUM5T AGA9/ MELIORISM4 

,!RE >E TWO SUP]FICIAL LIB]T>IAN >GUM5TS TO BE LOOK AT UND] ! HEAD+ ( UN9T5D$ CONSEQU5CES4 ,FIR/1 IT WILL BE SAID ?AT ! ME?OD ( IMPLEM5T+ PLANS ( SOCIAL RE=M IS ITSELF ESS5TIALLY 0POLITICAL10 9VOLV+ COMPROMISES1 UNSAVORY ALLIANCES1 & SO ON4 ,SECOND1 ! RE=M] IS OBLIG$1 AS SOON AS HE MEETS ) ! SLI<TE/ RESI/ANCE1 TO LEAN 9 AN AU?ORIT>IAN DIRECTION2 TO BECOME A M$DL] :O1 \T ( IGNORANCE OR RI<TE\SNESS1 IS 9CL9$ TO IMPOSE HIS CONCEPTION ( :AT IS DESIRABLE4 

,?AT ! ME?OD ( EFFECT+ PLANS IS POLITICAL1 9VOLV+ COMPROMISES & COMMITM5TS TO ALLIES1 NOT QUITE KO%]1 IS (T5 ! CASE1 & =ESEEABLY SO4 ,:E!R IT IS ALWAYS A SUFFICI5T REASON = LIB]T>IANS TO REJECT ! ACTION :I* 5TAILS COMPROMISES IS ANO!R QUE/ION4 ,TO ME ! ISSUE IS MU* MORE A MATT] ( DEGREE ?AN PRES]V+ ! PURITY ( AN ABSOLUTE PR9CIPLE4 ,9 SOME CIRCUM/ANCES1 = SOME 5DS1 ONE MAY WEI< ! LIKELY CO/ ! COMPROMIS+ AGA9/ O!R FACTORS1 & COME D[N ON ! SIDE ( ACTION4 ,TWO OBS]VATIONS >E RELEVANT H]E4 7#a7 ,LIB]T>IANISM IS NOT A 0S+LE VALUE0 E?IC AS IT HAS SOMETIMES BE5 MADE \T TO BE4 ,FRE$OM OR ANTI-AU?ORIT>IANISM LOOMS L>GE 9 \R ?\<TS BUT IT IS NOT ! ONLY CONSID]ATION4 7,I ?9K1 = EXAMPLE1 ?AT ! CRUCIAL OBJECTIONS TO RACIAL DISCRIM9ATION :I* LIB]T>IANS %>E ) O!RS HAVE LITTLE TO DO ) LIB]TY & MU* TO DO ) JU/ICE47 ,N[ CONFLICT BETWE5 V>I\S LIB]T>IAN GOODS IS1 PACE ,&]SON1 POSSIBLE3 FREQU5TLY RE=MS POSE A *ALL5GE TO EVALUATE CONFLICT+ 5DS4 7#b7 ,AP>T FROM ?IS1 EV5 ISSUES ( FRE$OM CAN LEAD TO CONFLICT ( 5DS :I* REQUIRE COMPROMISE & ADJUDICATION4 ,OR SET ONE'S FACE 0ON PR9CIPLE0 AGA9/ ! V]Y POSSIBILITY ( COMPROMISE IS DOGMATIC4 ,I SUGGE/ ?AT !SE !ORETICAL CONSID]ATIONS >E RECOGNIZ$1 9 A BACKH&$ WAY1 9 LIB]T>IAN PRACTICE1 AL?\< !Y HAVE NO PLACE 9 \R EXPLICIT DOCTR9E4 ,IT HAS LONG BE5 \R HABIT TO PICK & *OOSE ISSUES & SITUATIONS ON OR 9 :I* TO SPEAK & ACT1 & IT FREQU5TLY HAPP5S1 MORE & MORE ( LATE1 ?AT ! :OLE MOVEM5T LAPSES 9TO LONG P]IODS ( 9ACTIVITY = WANT ( ! RI<T ISSUES4 ,I DIAGNOSE ?IS 9T]MITT5T EXI/5CE AS DUE 9 P>T TO A FE> ( COMPROMISE :I* IS OBSESSIVE1 A HORROR ( SOIL+ ONE'S POLITICAL PURITY4 ,! MI/AKE1 IF IT IS A MI/AKE1 LIES NOT 9 ! WORLD = BE+ TOO UNK9D TO US1 BUT 9 US = BE+ TOO 9FLEXIBLE & PAY+ TOO MU* ATT5TION TO G5]ALITIES & TOO LITTLE TO ! P>TICUL>S ( ACTUAL SITUATIONS4 

,! RE=M] IS A M$DL]1 TEMPT$ BY AU?ORIT>IAN MEANS & (T5 SUCCUMB+ TO ! TEMPTATION4 ,?IS IS ALSO TRUE V]Y (T54 ,AGA91 IT IS NOT NECESS>ILY TRUE ( ALL MELIORI/S4 ,HE>1 = EXAMPLE1 ,GOODMAN ON ! GR\NDS ( HIS SELECTION ( ! FIL$ 9 :I* HE PROPOSES EXP$I5TS3 

0*>ACT]I/ICALLY1 ,I *OOSE SUBJECTS ?AT >E POLITICAL1 P]SONAL1 OR LIT]>Y PROBLEMS ( PRACTICE 4 4 ,& ! PROBLEMS >E MY PROBLEMS41 ,AS A WRIT] ,I AM HAMP]$ BY ! PRES5T LAWS ON PORNOGRAPHY1 & AS A MAN & A FA!R1 BY ! SEXUAL CLIMATE ( ?AT LAW2 SO IT IS A PROBLEM = ,M,E4 ,IT IS AS A ,NEW ,YORK] ?AT ,I PROPOSE TO BAN ! C>S FROM ! /REETS & CREATE A CITY ( NEI<BORHOODS4 ,AS AN 9TELLECTUAL MAN ?W>T$1 ,I WRITE ON ! 9HIBITION ( GRIEF & ANG] & LOOK = A !RAPY TO UNBLOCK !M4 ,& IT IS BECAUSE ,I AM HUNGRY = ! BEAUTY ( A PRACTICAL & SCI5TIFIC 5VIRONM5T ?AT ,I AM DISMAY$ BY \R 'APPLI$ SCI5CE' & W\LD LIKE TO EXPLA9 IT AWAY40 

0 444! CONT5T ( MY [N '>BITR>Y' PROPOSALS IS DET]M9$ BY MY [N JU/IFI$ CONC]NS4 ,I PROPOSE :AT ,I KN[ TO BE MY BUS9ESS4 ,!SE >E DEF9ITE & FAIRLY MODE/ AIMS2 :E!R OR NOT !Y >E PRACTICABLE REMA9S TO BE SE540 

,?IS DOES NOT S\ND LIKE A M$DL] SPEAK+4 ,YET IT MAY BE SAID TO ! EXT5T TO :I* ,GOODMAN %[S US A CLEAN PAIR ( H&S1 JU/ TO ?AT EXT5T HE IS 9EFFECTIVE & B\ND TO REMA9 SO4 ,= PRACTICAL SUCCESS REQUIRES ?AT ! RE=M] %\LD WORK ) & ?R\< 9/ITUTIONS & SEATS ( P[] 7GOV]NM5T1 CIVIC AU?ORITIES1 BUS9ESS1 P>TIES1 TRADE UNIONS1 ETC47 ,9 ACCEPT+ !SE 9/ITUTIONS AS P>T ( HIS MEANS ! RE=M] IS ALSO ACCEPT+ !IR *>ACT]I/IC WAYS ( WORK+ :I* IS AU?ORIT>IAN4 ,9 MITIGATION ( ?IS ONE CAN ANSW]3 

,?AT SOME RE=M]S 7E4G4 ,GOODMAN7 %[ GREAT AW>5ESS ( ! DIFFICULTIES & >E LOOK+1 MORE HOPEFULLY ?AN SUCCESSFULLY1 = ALT]NATIVES4 

,!RE IS A BIG DIFF]5CE BETWE5 ! ,/ATE & O!R 9/ITUTIONS AS WE HAVE ALWAYS EMPHASIZ$4 ,!RE IS F9ALLY NO REASON TO ASSUME ?AT EV]Y POLITICAL ACT :I* IS *ANNEL$ ?R\< ! ,/ATE MU/ BE AU?ORIT>IAN 9 ITS NET EFFECTS4 7,I'LL BR+ UP SOME EXAMPLES LAT]47 

,N[ TO ! ?IRD OBJECTION TO MELIORISM :I* WAS ?AT ! LIB]AL IMPULSE BEH9D RE=M ACTIVITIES BECOMES CORRUPT$ 9 ! V]Y C\RSE ( !SE ACTIVITIES4 ,MEANS DO NOT CORRUPT 5DS OR ?OSE :OSE 5DS !Y >E1 AUTOMATICALLY OR ME*ANICALLY4 ,SOCIAL & PSY*OLOGICAL CAUSATION IS MORE SUBTLE ?AN ?AT4 ,IF ! ATTITUDE ( ?OSE ADVOCAT+ SOME RE=M IS A REASONABLE MEAN BETWE5 TWO EXTREMES1 IT IS AT LEA/ POSSIBLE TO EMB>K ON A C\RSE ( ACTION )\T BE+ COMMITT$ TO SEE+ IT ?R\< NO MATT] :AT4 ,! EXTREMES >E BL9DLY OPTIMI/IC FAI? 9 ! P[] ( ,REASON ON ! ONE H&1 & A FETI%I/IC PRECONCEPTION AB\T 9ESCAPABLE CORRUPTION ON ! O!R4 ,A MORE RATIONAL ATTITUDE MAY BE LOCAT$ 9 BETWE54 ,IF CIRCUM/ANCES *ANGE1 SO %\LD DESIGNS1 9T5TIONS1 & DET]M9ATIONS4 ,:AT LOOKS DESIRABLE OR FEASIBLE AT ONE /AGE1 SAY AT ! /AGE ( CONTEMPLAT$ ACTION1 MAY *ANGE AT ANO!R1 & BECOME1 ?R\< NEW DEVELOPM5TS1 LESS DESIRABLE1 MORE MESSY4 ,!N WE MAY CONSID] GETT+ (F ! BUS4 ,C]TA9LY A MAN :O 9VE/S HIS HOPES & 5?USIASM 9 A PROJECT IS LESS LIKELY TO KEEP A COOL HEAD :5 ?+S BECOME COMPLICAT$4 ,HIS S5SITIVITY IS LIABLE TO BE BLUNT$1 HIS PATI5CE TO BECOME %ORT1 HIS RE/RA9T WEAK4 ,!SE >E PSY*OLOGICAL COMMONPLACES4 ,BUT !Y >E NOT NECESSITIES1 NOT 9V>IANT PH5OM5A4 ,TO SAY ?AT ! LIB]AL IMPULSE ( ! RE=M] IS LIKELY TO WI!R AWAY IS VALUABLE AS A W>N+ AGA9/ DANG]S :I* >E (T5 NOT EASY TO CIRCUMV5T4 ,& IT IS1 P]HAPS1 JU/ AS WELL TO BE F9ICKY H]E4 ,H[EV] :AT WE >E FAC$ ) IS A DANG]1 A RISK1 NOT ! C]TA9TY ( DOOM4 

,:]E >E WE 9 \R >GUM5T8 ,! /&>D LIB]T>IAN ATTITUDE TO MELIORISM IS A REACTION TO #a#h? & #a#i? C5TURY UTOPIANISM & TO !IR AFT]MA?3 AN EXAGG]AT$ FAI? 9 ! WELF>E /ATE4 ,IT SEEMS TO ME ?AT :ILE ! POSITIONS TO :I* WE REACT >E QUITE WRONG & !IR UND]LY+ ASSUMPTIONS MI/AK51 IT IS !IR CONTRADICTORY NOT !IR CONTR>Y :I* IS TRUE4 ,:AT WE CRITICIZE 9 MELIORISM -- ! SIMPLE-M9D$NESS1 ! OPTIMISM1 ! M$DL+1 ! AU?ORIT>IAN T5D5CIES -- >E EXCESSES OR ABUSES1 NOT)/&+ !IR FREQU5CY2 !Y >E OV]DOSES ( A M$IC9E :I* CAN H[EV] BE US$ 9 ! PROP] QUANTITIES4 ,!RE IS A WORLD ( DIFF]5CE TO MY M9D BETWE5 SOMEONE LIKE ,%AW &1 SAY4 ,GOODMAN1 & ,I %\LD LIKE TO ?9K ?AT WE CAN HAVE A SUFFICI5TLY SOPHI/ICAT$ SOCIAL !ORY TO TAKE ,F,U,L,L ACC\NT ( ! DIFF]5CE4 ,MY [N VIEW IS ?AT WE HAVE OV]LOOK$ ! POSSIBILITY ( A 0RE/RA9$ MELIORISM10 :I* IS SELECTIVE & NOT COMMITT$ TO EI!R SILLY BELIEFS OR BASE ACTIONS4 ,! PROBLEMS AS WE SEE IT IS3 :AT IS WRONG ON G5]AL ) MELIORISM8 ,?IS =MULATION \<T TO BE SCRAPP$ & ) IT ALL ATTEMPT$ ANSW]S4 ,9/EAD ( TRY+ TO CONVICT MELIORISM 9 G5]AL ON G5]AL GR\NDS1 WE %\LD TRY TO LOOK AT EA* AN EV]Y POLICY1 PROPOSAL1 ACTION1 ACTOR1 OR 9/ITUTION1 S+LY1 JUDG+ !M ON !IR M]ITS4 ,?AT IS1 9 ! FULL LI<T ( ! P>TICUL> RELEVANT HI/ORICAL CIRCUM/ANCES1 & ) ! SORT ( T5TATIV5ESS OR C]TA9TY :I* \R KN[L$GE ( ! P>TICUL>S W>RANTS4 ,AN IMPORTANT CONSEQU5CE ( SU* A REORI5TATION W\LD BE ?IS3 WE C\LD TREAT ! QUE/ION 0,PROTE/ OR ,RE=M0 AS TO SOME EXT5T 0OP540 ,WE C\LD RECOGNIZE ?AT !RE IS NOT1 FROM ! LIB]T>IAN OR ANY O!R PO9T ( VIEW1 A S+LE CORRECT ANSW] COV]+ ALL SITUATIONS & ALL EXIG5CIES4 ,?IS IS QUITE CONSI/5T ) HAV+ A DISSID5T1 CRITICAL1 OR OPPOSITIONI/ \TLOOK4 ,WE CAN BE PROTE/]S OR CRITICS1 O!R ?+S BE+ EQUAL2 9DE$ WE CAN PREF] ?IS AS A MODUS OP]&I TO ! COMMITT$ PRACTICALISM EXEMPLIFI$ BY ,GOODMAN4 ,BUT WE %\LD GIVE \RSELVES MORE ROOM TO MOVE 9 BY ALL[+ = ! FACT ?AT O!R ?+S >E NOT ALWAYS EQUAL & DEPLORABLE CONSEQU5CES DO NOT FOLL[ FROM MELIORI/ ACTIONS ) AN IRON NECESSITY4 ,SOMETIMES !Y DON'T FOLL[ AT ALL4 ,!RE >E PL5TY ( EXAMPLES4 ,TO MY M9D IT IS CLE> ?AT1 O!R ?+S BE+ EQUAL1 IT IS BETT] TO HAVE LEGAL HOMOSEXUALITY ?AN ILLEGAL1 LEGAL ABORTION ?AN ILLEGAL1 UNRE/RICT$ AVAILABILITY ( CONTRACEPTIVES RA!R ?AN RE/RICT$1 DIVORCE BY CONS5T RA!R ?AN BY LITIGATION1 LITTLE C5SOR%IP RA!R ?AN MU*1 MULTI=M RA!R ?AN UNI=M C5SOR%IP1 ETC41 ETC4 ,NONE ( !SE1 CONSID]$ AS OBJECTIVES1 IS UTOPIAN 9 ! CONTEXT ( CONTEMPOR>Y ,AU/RALIA1 ?\< SOME >E LESS LIKELY ?AN O!RS4 ,& POLICIES DESIGN$ TO PROMOTE !SE 5DS & O!RS LIKE !N NE$ NOT HAVE ANY DEBILITAT+ OR CORRUPT+ EFFECTS1 ?\< ( C\RSE !Y C\LD HAVE !M4 

,N[ ALL ?IS IS NOT TO SAY ?AT LIB]T>IANS \<T TO ADJ\RN H5CE=? TO PLUNGE 9TO PRACTICAL LABORS1 TO PRESS = LEGISLATION1 & SO ON1 LET ALONE ?AT !Y %\LD GO \T TO MANUFACTURE DESIGNS = GRACI\S LIV+4 ,I'M NOT CONC]N$ SO MU* ) 5C\RAG+ \R ACTIVISM1 AS ) CL>IFICATION ( \R ATTITUDES4 ,:]E WE DO SOME?+ PRACTICAL & MELIORI/ IS ( LITTLE ACC\NT1 S9CE OBVI\SLY \R ACTIONS DEP5D NOT ONLY ON \R CONVICTIONS & ! CL>ITY1 S9C]ITY & S]I\SNESS ) :I* WE HOLD !M1 BUT ALSO ON ! ELAN & 5]GY WE CAN MU/] 9 ACT+ ON !SE CONVICTIONS4 ,POLITICAL REJUV5ATION ( A BUN* ( LAZY BA/>DS CAN H>DLY BE EXPECT$ FROM A M]E SYMPOSIUM4 ,YET :AT WE SAY & ?9K AB\T NON-LIB]T>IAN ACTIVI/S C\LD WELL BE MODIFI$ BY ACCEPT+ 9TO \R S*EME ( ?+S :AT ,I HAVE CALL$ RE/RA9$ MELIORISM4 

  

,GEORGE ,MOLN> 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,NOVEMB] #c1 #aiff 3 ,MELIORISM3 ,A ,CONTRIBUTION TO A ,LIB]T>IAN ,SYMPOSIUM -- ,PUBLICATION4 
,APRIL #b#a1 #bb 3 ,MELIORISM3 ,A ,CONTRIBUTION TO A ,LIB]T>IAN ,SYMPOSIUM -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #c1 #bbb 3 ,MELIORISM3 ,A ,CONTRIBUTION TO A ,LIB]T>IAN ,SYMPOSIUM -- ,UPDAT$4 

 FILE G5]AT$ FROM 3  
HTTP3_/_/REVOLTLIB4COM_/