In other words, the free society, accepting human nature, nudges men toward better behavior rather than compels it. It teaches rational and moral conduct through reason and example. It fosters compromise by demonstrating the personal costs of being too extreme in one's personal actions. And it raises the ethical conduct of the society by the discovered advantages of personal improvement through time. Quite the contrary.
Freedom is the epitome of moderation.
And it is freedom's moderation, its tolerance and diversity, that drives some men mad. But madness, by definition, is not the normal condition of a healthy human being. The history of western civilization is the story of man's slow escape from the madness of political and social extremism. Our dilemma and our challenge is that this sickness still controls the minds of too many. Professor Ebeling is the Ludwig von Mises Professor of Economics at Hillsdale College in Michigan and also serves as Vice-President of Academic Affairs of The Future of Freedom Foundation.