In my article, Why I Am Not A Libertarian, I said this:

I do not advocate empowering the State to micromanage the lives of free people. However, I do advocate the promotion of positive ethics through active persuasion. Logic, reason, rhetoric, persistence, even volume: these are the tools of persuasion, and we must use them.

I received an e-mail from a friend asking me about this passage. He asked me several good questions. Whom did I want to do this persuading? Through what means would it be done? More importantly, what did I mean by "volume?" Wouldn't using "volume" be using force to impose my will on others?

In advocating active persuasion to spread rational ethics, I envision a world in which interested people speak out about those ideas, principles, and issues that are important. Every rational person who concurs with the ethics I advocate, including those I can convince through reason to agree with me, are among those I would hope to see persuading others. As for what means they're going to use, every avenue in which people communicate freely with one another is a battleground on which to fight the war of ideas. The Web and discussion forums are great examples, but each of us, in our personal lives, has many opportunities to speak to people. There are those with whom we chat casually, and there are others we encounter in friendly settings. I see no reason not to share what we believe, provided we do not behave boorishly.

My reference to volume, which troubled my friend, is just a nod to the fact that debates sometimes become heated. When you debate someone, you must be prepared to match volume for volume. There will always be those who attempt to shout you down -- literally or, on the Web, figuratively -- to drown out your voice. You, in turn, must be prepared to shout back for the benefit of those who might be listening and learning. This is not force, but persuasion, provided you're not screaming at people who've told you they do not wish to converse with you at all. There's a distinct difference between harassing someone and being prepared to make yourself heard in the course of an argument.

The tools of persuasion, as I've described them, meet certain needs:

• Logic, to make your case;
  
• Reason, to tie together your logic chain;
  
• Rhetoric, to state your case eloquently, in a way that will reach the hearts and minds of your audience;
  
• Persistence, for rarely are people persuaded immediately or easily; and
  
• Volume, because there will always be those who try to undercut your argument by overpowering or otherwise obscuring your voice.