In these times when the debate on libertarian theories is back in the news, it is interesting to remember how Sergio Ricossa had landed, in the final part of his life, on libertarian positions.
In a previous article we have already seen how the label of “liberal” was now too narrow for him and that he considered the heterogeneous galaxy of libertarianism to be “bolder and younger” terrain, daring beyond liberalism towards positions that were sometimes even extreme or on the edge of paradox: “When public opinion is very confused, every now and then we need to show the difference between one political flag and another by going to the extreme.” (Sergio Ricossa, From liberal to libertarian – Leonardo Facco Editore 1999).
For a liberal and libertarian it is quite natural to find oneself at ease in the apparent contradictions of libertarian openings: “Even when I didn’t think of being a libertarian, everything was already in embryo in my desire to be free, even from the academic forms I couldn’t care less about (…). Being a bit of a daredevil, not worrying about academia and what academics may have to say… After all, academically I too am considered a bit of a ‘crazy’… Even just for having written, as an economist, a book like Damn economists “(Ibid).
A libertarianism that does not give in to approval and which precisely as such shuns rigid organizations and forced impositions: “I understand that libertarianism, precisely because it is libertarianism, can vary from person to person. Everyone sets the limits they want to their search for freedom. I was absolutely not shocked to find different positions among libertarians. However, I would be shocked if everyone thought the same way. It is impossible for an individualist to accept another’s thinking 100%.. It might happen once in a while. But almost always, she puts in some variation of her own, personal one.
We cannot expect absolute unity among libertarians, just as they cannot be expected to found compact associations. It is true that socialists also argue constantly, but it is not justified there, because they aim for unity. Among libertarians, however, it is justified. Can this weaken us? No, I don’t think so, that’s the beauty of it. In fact, I believe that it attracts, especially young people: getting closer to currents of thought that give maximum freedom to a young person to choose their own way of being libertarian”. (Ibid)
Looking to a free and open society, without the distortions of a statism that pervades the lives of individuals in every corner; give hope to young people in a life perspective outside the constraints of pre-packaged ideological cageswith freedom as the main objective to be pursued and defended.