The Ethics of LibertyIn recent years, libertarian impulses have increasingly influenced national and economic debates, from welfare reform to efforts to curtail affirmative action. Murray N. Rothbard's classicThe Ethics of Libertystands as one of the most rigorous and philosophically sophisticated expositions of the libertarian political position.What distinguishes Rothbard's book is the manner in which it roots the case for freedom in the concept of natural rights and applies it to a host of practical problems. An economist by profession, Rothbard here proves himself equally at home with philosophy. And while his conclusions are radical--that a social order that strictly adheres to the rights of private property must exclude the institutionalized violence inherent in the state--his applications of libertarian principles prove surprisingly practical for a host of social dilemmas, solutions to which have eluded alternative traditions.The Ethics of Libertyauthoritatively established the anarcho-capitalist economic system as the most viable and the only principled option for a social order based on freedom. This edition is newly indexed and includes a new introduction that takes special note of the Robert Nozick-Rothbard controversies. |
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Page xii
... theory of monopoly prices and of government and governmental security ... libertarian law , from the law of ap- propriation to that of contracts and ... theory of property . Nor is it possible to establish the familiar economic theorems ...
... theory of monopoly prices and of government and governmental security ... libertarian law , from the law of ap- propriation to that of contracts and ... theory of property . Nor is it possible to establish the familiar economic theorems ...
Page xxii
... Theory of Justice . Almost overnight Nozick was inter- nationally famous ... libertarian . In fact , Nozick was heavily influenced by Rothbard . He had ... theory . " To be sure , the conclusions arrived at by Nozick were less radical ...
... Theory of Justice . Almost overnight Nozick was inter- nationally famous ... libertarian . In fact , Nozick was heavily influenced by Rothbard . He had ... theory . " To be sure , the conclusions arrived at by Nozick were less radical ...
Page xxxiv
... libertarianism is not affected in the slightest by the circumstance that moral discussants may or may not always come to ... Theory , " Journal of Libertarian Studies 12 , no . 2 ( 1996 ) . opposed to life , he would have no business in ...
... libertarianism is not affected in the slightest by the circumstance that moral discussants may or may not always come to ... Theory , " Journal of Libertarian Studies 12 , no . 2 ( 1996 ) . opposed to life , he would have no business in ...
Page xxxvi
... libertarian move- ment was even acknowledged by the mainstream media.31 Nor did the academic rejection make any noticeable impression on Rothbard or the further development of libertarian theory . The Ethics of Liberty had been ...
... libertarian move- ment was even acknowledged by the mainstream media.31 Nor did the academic rejection make any noticeable impression on Rothbard or the further development of libertarian theory . The Ethics of Liberty had been ...
Page xxxvii
... theory with history , Rothbard provided the Austro- libertarian movement with a grand historical perspective , sociological understanding , and strategic vision , and thus deepened and broadened libertarianism's popular anchoring and ...
... theory with history , Rothbard provided the Austro- libertarian movement with a grand historical perspective , sociological understanding , and strategic vision , and thus deepened and broadened libertarianism's popular anchoring and ...
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absolute action aggression aggressor Anarchy argument blackmail Chicago child claim coerced coercion coercive compensation compulsory concept contract course courts crime criminal critique Crusoe defense economic economist enforceable Ethics of Liberty example exchange existing F.A. Hayek fact feudal force free market free society freedom Furthermore goal Hayek Hence human Ibid individual intellectual invasion Jones Journal of Libertarian justice labor laissez-faire land legitimate libertarian society Libertarian Studies Ludwig von Mises man's means Mises modern monopoly moral murder Murray Murray N natural law natural rights Nozick owner ownership parents political philosophy Power and Market praxeology principle private property problem production promise property rights property titles protection punishment reason Robert Nozick Rothbard Roy Childs rules Ruritania self-ownership sell simply slavery Smith social someone statism suppose taxation taxes transformed ultra-minimal University Press utilitarian victim violate violence voluntary Walter Block York
Popular passages
Page xxii - Our main conclusions about the state are that a minimal state, limited to the narrow functions of protection against force, theft, fraud, enforcement of contracts, and so on, is justified; that any more extensive state will violate persons...
Page xiv - Among the essential features of this situation is that no one knows his place in society, his class position or social status, nor does any one know his fortune in the distribution of natural assets and abilities, his intelligence, strength and the like.