Capitalism and Commerce: Conceptual Foundations of Free Enterprise / Edition 384

by Edward W. Younkins

Overview

In Capitalism and Commerce, Edward Younkins provides a clear and accessible introduction to the best moral and economic arguments for capitalism. Drawn from over a decade of business school teaching, Younkins's work offers the student of political economy and the educated layperson a clear, systematic treatment of the philosophical concepts that underpin the idea of capitalism and the business, legal, and political institutions that impact commercial enterprises. Divided into seven parts, the work discusses capitalism and morality; individuals, communities, and the role of the state; private and corporate ownership; entrepreneurship and technological progress; law, justice, and corporate governance; and the obstacles to a free market and limited government.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780739103814
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	08/06/2002
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	360
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.82(d)

About the Author

Edward W. Younkins is Professor of Accountancy and Business Administration at Wheeling Jesuit University. He is the editor of Michael Novak's Three in One: Essays on Democratic Capitalism, 1976-2000 (Rowman & Littlefield, 2001)

Table of Contents

Part 1 Introduction: Capitalism and Morality Part 2 Individuals, Communities, and the State Chapter 3 Individual Rights Chapter 4 Individuals and Communities Chapter 5 Civil Society Chapter 6 The Common Good Chapter 7 The State Chapter 8 Personal Flourishing and Happiness Part 9 Ownership Chapter 10 Private Property Chapter 11 Contract Chapter 12 Work Chapter 13 The Labor Union Chapter 14 The Corporation Chapter 15 Business Part 16 Progress Chapter 17 Entrepreneurship Chapter 18 Technology Part 19 Governance Chapter 20 Justice Chapter 21 Law Chapter 22 Corporate Governance Part 23 Obstacles to a Free Society Chapter 24 Collectivist Thinkers Chapter 25 Cultural Relativism Chapter 26 Communitarianism Chapter 27 Environmentalism Chapter 28 Public Education Chapter 29 Taxation Chapter 30 Protectionism Chapter 31 Antitrust Laws Chapter 32 Government Regulation Chapter 33 Inflation and Money Part 34 In Retrospect and Prospect Chapter 35 Conceptual Foundations Revisited Chapter 36 The Future Part 37 Appendix: A Reader's Guide to Free-Market Organizations and Periodicals

Editorial Reviews

In Capitalism and Commerce Professor Younkins has drawn from a wide range of old and new literature in the classical liberal tradition to articulate—patiently and thoroughly—the intellectual foundation of the free society. For the student or interested business professional, his presentation is valuable exposition of invaluable ideas.

Jeffrey Tucker

Capitalism and Commerce points out that what it takes to be successful in a capitalist society is being able to please others, and as a system, capitalism encourages moral behavior. It should be read by every journalist in America.

Gary Wolfram Gary Wolfram

Capitalism and Commerce is far more than its altogether too modest subtitle Conceptual Foundations of Free Enterprise indicates. Yes, the book covers this topic with thoroughness, eloquence, and wisdom, but it also touches upon just about every question or criticism that anyone has ever made about the morality or practicality of free enterprise.. .. This book is a tour de force presentation of the case for economic freedom.

Walter Block

Youkins' Capitalism and Commerce will shake up anyone who has become too comfortable with the status quo of bigger government. And, most of all, it motivates readers to exact an honest measure of their freedom and question how much, or how little, freedom they really have left.

The State Journal

[This] work stands out in its field, and will no doubt become a contemporary classic in the not-too-distant future. It should be read by every student, business professional, politician, and journalist in America and should be part of every college curriculum.

Le Quebécois Libre

A welcome moral play, an antidote to a rising tirade of business-and-capitalism-bashing amid a rash of corporate scandals.... Hopefully "Capitalism and Commerce" will attract intellectuals on the left and right here and abroad to rectify or reinforce their own thinking.

The Washington Times

Capitalism rests on a moral foundation, like the rest of civilization. Edward W. Younkins has done an extraordinary job of explicating that foundation, in an impressive and much-needed work.

Llewellyn H. Rockwell Jr.

Edward Youkins has made a real contribution to our understanding of the moral underpinnings of the economic sstem that accompanies our way of life. And he has done so just when we needed it most.

Yuval Levin

A fine statement of the moral and economic arguments for capitalism

David Boaz

Making use of the literature of liberty, Younkins provides a very clear, concise, and accessible introduction to the conceptual foundations of capitalism and a free society.

Chris Matthew Sciabarra

The book magisterially fulfills its promise. It is well-written and concise, and it presents all the fundamental arguments that anybody who supports the capitalist system should know about.

Martin Masse

[Capitalism and Commerce] is a powerful, scholarly antidote to all the shallow, politically-correct business bashing that is so prevalent in academe and the media.

Thomas J. DiLorenzo

Younkins' book is a quite a tour de force through classical liberal views on production and exchange activities of people, as well as on some sweeping philosophical history. His views will appeal to, and be embraced by, individuals with classical liberal sensibilities

Charles W. Baird

Capitalism and Commerce points out that what it takes to be successful in a capitalist society is being able to please others, and as a system, capitalism encourages moral behavior. It should be read by every journalist in America.

Gary Wolfram

Capitalism rests on a moral foundation, like the rest of civilization. Edward W. Younkins has done an extraordinary job of explicating that foundation, in an impressive and much-needed work.--Llewellyn H. Rockwell Jr., The Ludwig von Mises Institute

The book magisterially fulfills its promise. It is well-written and concise, and it presents all the fundamental arguments that anybody who supports the capitalist system should know about.--Martin Masse, The Ludwig von Mises Institute

Edward Youkins has made a real contribution to our understanding of the moral underpinnings of the economic sstem that accompanies our way of life. And he has done so just when we needed it most.--Yuval Levin, staff member, President's Council on Bioethics

From the Publisher

[This] work stands out in its field, and will no doubt become a contemporary classic in the not-too-distant future. It should be read by every student, business professional, politician, and journalist in America and should be part of every college curriculum.

Le Quebécois Libre

[This] work stands out in its field, and will no doubt become a contemporary classic in the not-too-distant future. It should be read by every student, business professional, politician, and journalist in America and should be part of every college curriculum.

Le Quebecois Libre