Video Game Politics Redux

Turns out the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette also ran the Michael Gerson column discussed in the last entry on Saturday, July 7, under the title "A Libertarian Utopia in Cyberspace is not so Utopian." While I'm yet to hear anything from the Washington Post regarding my previously-posted letter, a separate letter sent to Pittsburgh's city paper was published on Wednesday, July 11. Either click the link and check out the second to last letter, or just read the letter here:

I was disappointed to see the Post-Gazette publish Michael Gerson's factually inaccurate explanation of spontaneous order in "A Libertarian Utopia in Cyberworld Is Not So Utopian" (July 7 column).

Mr. Gerson argues that the online video game Second Life provides a window into what a libertarian America would look like, since the online world relies on the same localized spontaneous order supported by proponents of libertarianism.

Spontaneous order is a theory advanced by Nobel-winning economist F.A. Hayek to explain the process by which individuals acting in their own self-interest will organically develop the best -- not perfect, but best -- solutions to social problems. Far from being uncoordinated, as Mr. Gerson asserts, spontaneous order arises from the overlapping interests of members of society who bond together to realize these interests for their mutual gain. Examples include language, the first forms of currency and even the communal relationships that Mr. Gerson falsely identifies as antithetical to libertarianism. To quote Dr. Hayek, "We have developed these practices and institutions by building upon habits and institutions which have proved successful in their own sphere and which have in turn become the foundation of the civilization we have built up."

The reason spontaneous order does not emerge in Second Life is because, unlike in real life, individuals can hide behind their avatars and escape responsibility for their actions. Mr. Gerson should realize that video games may provide a great source of fun, fantasy and escape but are no basis for a political philosophy.