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Prize "Would a libertarian society deprive individuals of cultural roots and collective identity?" 2010 Chris R. Tame Memorial Prize The Libertarian Alliance London (United Kingdom) __________________________________________________ In honour of Dr Chris R. Tame (1949-2006), The Libertarian Alliance offers a yearly prize of £1,000 for an essay on a subject to be announced by Dr Sean Gabb, Director of the Libertarian Alliance. By Monday the 25th October 2010, contestants are invited to submit essays to Dr Sean Gabb, Director of the Libertarian Alliance. Essay Title: "Would a libertarian society deprive individuals of cultural roots and collective identity?" Essay Length: 3,000 words excluding notes and bibliography Explanatory Note: Something that variously inspires and terrifies is that claim that Islam resets the clock in any society where it is widely adopted. For example, the ancient histories of Persia and Egypt were obliterated between the 7th and the 9th centuries - so much so that they were only revealed to the natives of those countries in the 19th century by western scholars. Would the achievement of libertarian hegemony result in a similar wipe out? Is it possible that the libertarian inhabitants of a future British Isles would regard Westminster Abbey and Trafalgar Square with the same utilitarian indifference as, until recently, Egyptian Moslems did the Great Pyramid and the Temple at Karnak? Libertarianism, after all, is an ideology of personal rights. Doubtless, libertarians will continue to get married and have children, and will form networks of friends. They will trade and cooperate extensively. Many will go to church or whatever. Most, one hopes, will take pleasure in charitable giving. But will they have the same cultural roots and collective identity as Englishmen and Frenchmen of our own day still have? Are these things actually valuable? Are they simply part of a discourse that keeps people enslaved? Or are they parts of a sedative that keeps us from seeing the full horror of death and taxes? These notes are not to be regarded as exhaustive prompts. The winning essay may well take a different approach to the title. And originality is welcomed. Entrants may wish to find a similarity between our title for this year's prize and the "Libertarianism and Racial Nationalism" essay contest run earlier this year by The Occidental Observer. While we are unlikely to give £1,000 to someone for arguing that libertarianism is part of a Jewish plot to destroy white racial identity, some familiarity with this type of critique may be useful. Rules: - Essays must be original and previously unpublished works. - Essays must be fully referenced. - Essays must be submitted in English and typed and in hard copy by sending to The Libertarian Alliance, Suite 35, 2 Lansdowne Row, Mayfair, London W1J 6H, United Kingdom. - Essays must also be submitted by e-mail and in MS Word format to Sean Gabb <[email protected]>. - Essays must bear the name and full address of the author, including his e-mail address. The name does not need to be genuine, but work submitted under what Sean Gabb considers an absurd pseudonym may be rejected. Certainly, the prize money will be by cheque, and so must be made out to a real person. - Essays must have been received ain both hard and soft copy no later than Monday the 25th October 2010. - The winner will be announced on the evening of Saturday the 30th October 2010, at the banquet of the Libertarian Alliance Conference, to be held at the National Liberal Club in London. - The winner may be required to make a ten minute acceptance speech on Saturday the 30th October 2010, at the banquet of the Libertarian Alliance Conference, to be held at the National Liberal Club in London. This speech may be made in person, or by pre-recorded video, or may be read out by Sean Gabb. - The prize will be £1,000, made out to the winner and payable in Sterling by cheque drawn on one of the United Kingdom clearing banks. No other form of payment will be considered. - The winning essay will be published by the Libertarian Alliance. All essays submitted will be published by the Libertarian Alliance. - In all matters of deciding the winner of the Prize and in all associated matters, the decision of Sean Gabb shall be final. - The act of submitting an essay shall constitute full acceptance of these terms. - This prize competition is not open to any Officer of the Libertarian Alliance or of the Libertarian International, or to any previous winner of the competition. For all questions, please contact Sean Gabb, though be prepared to wait for an answer. Contact: Sean Gabb The Libertarian Alliance Suite 35 2 Lansdowne Row London W1J 6HL United Kingdom Tel: +44 7956 472199 Email: [email protected] Web: http://www.libertarian.co.uk/conferences/prize10.htm __________________________________________________ InterPhil List Administration: http://interphil.polylog.org Intercultural Philosophy Calendar: http://cal.polylog.org __________________________________________________
