Tag Archives: Libertarianism

Quote of the Week: John Maynard Keynes on Pragmatism

The ideas of economists and political philosophers, both when they are right and when they are wrong, are more powerful than is commonly understood. Indeed the world is ruled by little else. Practical men, who believe themselves to be quite … Continue reading

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In Praise of Gridlock

I see history as centrally a race and conflict between “social power”—the productive consequence of voluntary interactions among men—and state power. In those eras of history when liberty—social power—has managed to race ahead of state power and control, the country … Continue reading

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The Non-Aggression Principle Part 2/3 – A Conclusion, Not an Axiom

Back in the 1960s and 70s, when libertarianism was a newly emerging ideology, many libertarians used the term “non-aggression axiom,” rather than the now more common “non-aggression principle” (NAP). This was not just a terminological issue, but also had an … Continue reading

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The Non-Aggression Principle Part 1/3 – What It Is and What It Isn’t

The non-aggression principle (NAP) is the cornerstone of libertarianism. Roughly speaking, the NAP states that it is illicit to initiate violence against person or property. In this post, I will argue that the NAP should be understood as a legal … Continue reading

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The Economist’s Question

An economist was once asked how his wife was. His answer: “Compared to what?” This old economics joke illustrates one of the central lessons of economics. In decision making, it does not matter how good or bad a particular option … Continue reading

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