The Libertarian Reader: Classic & Contemporary Writings from Lao-Tzu to Milton Friedman

by David Boaz (Editor)

Overview

“The most magnificent collection of libertarian writings ever published” (Laissez Faire Books).

An important collection of seminal writings on a movement that is rapidly changing the face of American politics, The Libertarian Reader links some of the most fertile minds of our time to a centuries-old commitment to freedom, self-determination, and opposition to intrusive government. This is the first comprehensive anthology of libertarian thought—from the Bible and Lao-Tzu to Hayek and Milton Friedman—to be published in one volume. The 68 selections from great libertarian writers are an intellectual feast, covering such key libertarian themes as skepticism about power, individual rights, spontaneous order, free markets, and peace.

For all independent thinkers, this unique sourcebook will stand as a classic reference for years to come, and a reminder that libertarianism is one of our oldest and most venerable American traditions.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476752891
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster
Publication date:	02/17/2015
Edition description:	Reissue
Pages:	624
Sales rank:	366,019
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.60(d)

About the Author

David Boaz (1953–2024) was a distinguished senior fellow of the Cato Institute. For more than four decades as vice president for public policy and executive vice president, he played a key role in the development of both the Cato Institute and the libertarian movement. He is the author of The Libertarian Mind: A Manifesto for Freedom (first edition titled Libertarianism: A Primer) and the editor of The Libertarian Reader. His articles appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and the Los Angeles Times, among other publications.

Table of Contents

Introduction xi

Part 1 Skepticism About Power

1 Samuel 8 the Bible 5

Of the Origin and Design of Government Thomas Paine, Common Sense 7

Federalist No. 10 Fames Madison 15

What Sort of Despotism Democratic Nations Have to Fear Alexis De Tocqueville, Democracy in America 24

Objections to Government Interference John Stuart Mill, On Liberty 30

More of the Same H. L. Mencken, American Mercury 33

The Humanitarian with the Guillotine Isabel Paterson, the God of the Machine 36

The State Murray N. Rothbard, For a New Liberty 42

Self-Interest and the Constitution Richard Epstein, Journal of Legal Education 50

Part 2 Individualism and Civil Society

Understanding Can Not Be Compelled John Locke, a Letter Concerning Toleration 65

Justice and Beneficence Adam Smith, the Theory of Moral Sentiments 71

The Subjugation of Women Mary Wollstonecraft, a Vindication of the Rights of Woman 76

The Liberty of the Ancients Compared With That of the Moderns Benjamin Constant 80

Associations in Civil Life Alexis De Tocquevilie, Democracy in America 88

Interest Rightly Understood Alexis De Tocqueville, Democracy in America 93

Man Cannot Hold Property in Man William Lloyd Garrison, Declaration of the Sentiments of the American a Nti-Slaverv Convention 95

You Are a Man, and So Am I Frederick Douglass 99

A Human Being Cannot Be Justly Owned William Ellery Channing, Slavery 108

Rights and Responsibilities of Women 111

Angelina Grimké

Woman As a Moral Being Sarah Grimké 117

Of Individuality John Stuart Mill, On Liberty 119

On Equality and Inequality Ludwig Von Mises, Modem Ace 130

The Tendrils of Community Charles Murray, in Pursuit: of Happiness and Good Government 135

Private Prejudice, Private Remedy Doug Bandow, the Freeman 140

Part 3 Individual Rights

An Arrow Against All Tyrants Richard Overton 151

Of Property and Government John Locke, Second Treatise of Government 154

Justice and Property David Hume, a Treatise of Human Nature 171

The Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson 171

Equality of Rights Immanuel Kant 181

The Right To Ignore the State Herbert Spencer, Social Sialics 190

The Constitution of No Authority Lysander Spooner, No Treason 197

The Playboy Interview With Ayn Rand Alvin Toffler, Playboy 207

Ayn Rand On Rights and Capitalism Douglas J. Den Vyl and Douglas &. Rasntussen, the Philosophic Thought of Ayn Rand 218

The Entitlement Theory of Justice Robert Nozick, Anarchy, State, and Utopia 234

The Right To Do Wrong Roger Pilon 256

Part 4 Spontaneous Order

Harmony Lao-Tzu, Taoteching 267

The Man of System Adam Smith, the Theory of Mora] Sentiments 270

Of Society and Civilization Thomas Paine, the Rights of Man 272

The Use of Knowledge in Society R. A. Hayek 277

Two Kinds Op Order Michael Polanyi, the Logic of Liberty 291

Made Orders and Spontaneous Orders F. A. Hayek, I Aw. Legislation, and Liberty 302

Economy As Ecosystem Michael Rothschild, Bionomics 316

Part 5 Free Markets and Voluntary Order

The Division of Labor Adam Smith, the Wealth of Nations 329

Society and Self-Interest Adam Smith, the Wealth of Nations 332

Labor and Commerce Adam Smith, the Wealth of Nations 334

Free Trade Adam Smith, the Wealth of Nations 336

The Simple System of Natural Liberty Adam Smith, the Wealth of Nations 340

What Is Seen and What Is Not Seen Frédéric Bastiat 342

Socialism and Intervention Ludwig Von Mises, Liberalism 355

Redistributing Power Bertrand De Jouvenel the Ethics of Redistribution 371

The Relation Between Economic Freedom and Political Freedom Milton Friedman, Capitalism and Freedom 379

The Market Order Or Catallaxy E A. Hayek, Law, Legislation, and Liberty 394

If You're Paying, I'll Have Top Sirloin Russell Roberts, the Wall Street Journal 406

Part 6 Peace and International Harmony

Commerce Is the Grand Panacea Richard Cobden 415

Nonintervention Richard Cobden 418

The Eclipse of Liberalism the Nation 420

Peace Ludwig Von Mises, Liberalism 424

The Case For Strategic Disengagement Earl C. Ravenal, Foreign Affairs 429

Toward Strategic Independence Ted Galen Carpenter, Brown Journal of World Affairs 436

Part 7 The Libertarian Future

Capitalism and the Permissive Society Samuel Hrittan, a Restatement of Economic Liberalism 448

Liberalism in the Coming Decade Antonio Martino 462

The Power and Poverty of Libertarian Thought Richard Cornuelle, Times Literary Supplement 473

The Culture of Liberty Mario Vargas Llosa, Journal of Democracy 484

Governments in Decline Norman Macrae 495

Paternalist Government Is Out of Date Michael Prowse, the Independent 507

"Creative Destruction" and the Innovation Age Peter K. Pitsch 513

Evolutionary Ecology Lynn Scarlett, Reason 522

The Future of Government John Perry Barlow, Spin 539

The Literature of Liberty Tom G. Palmer 543

Sources 591