LIBERTARIANISM VS COMMUNITY - REPLY TO SIMPSON

Like many libertarian thinkers, Simpson assumes that the minimal state is culturally neutral. This is false. Libertarianism is a theory oppo sed to hierarchy at the state level. As such, it also undermines the g rounds for hierarchy at the community level. Since communities require some form of hierarchy not only to exist but to generate meaningful c ulture, libertarianism is inherently nonneutral towards culture. From this it follows that Simpson's idea of a minimal state overseeing vari ous nonliberal communities cannot be realized within the libertarian f ramework. In its place, I defend republicanism, which makes no pretens ions toward cultural neutrality.