The Ethics of Liberty
| The Ethics of Liberty | |
|---|---|
 Paperback cover | |
| Author(s) | Murray N. Rothbard |
| Country | United States |
| Subject(s) | Political philosophy, Ethics |
| Genre(s) | Non-fiction |
| Publisher | Humanities Press |
| Publication date | 1982 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 268 |
| ISBN | 0391023713 |
| OCLC Number | 7813705 |
| Dewey Decimal | 323.44/01 19 |
| LC Classification | JC585 .R69 1982 |
The Ethics of Liberty, by American economist and historian Murray N. Rothbard, first published in 1982, is an exposition of the libertarian political position. It roots the case for freedom in the concept of natural rights and applies it to a host of practical problems.
Hans-Hermann Hoppe, who wrote the introduction to later editions of the book, has described the 273-page The Ethics of Liberty as Murray Rothbard's second magnum opus, the other being Man, Economy, and State.[1]
Contents
Part I: Introduction: Natural Law
1. Natural Law and Reason
2. Natural Law as "Science"
3. Natural Law Versus Positive Law
4. Natural Law and Natural Rights
5. The Task of Political Philosophy
Part II: A Theory of Liberty
6. A Crusoe Social Philosophy
7. Interpersonal Relations: Voluntary Exchange
8. Interpersonal Relations: Ownership and Aggression
9. Property and Criminality
10. The Problem of Land Theft
11. Land Monopoly, Past and Present
12. Self-Defense
13. Punishment and Proportionality
14. Children and Rights
15. "Human Rights" as Property Rights
16. Knowledge, True and False
17. Bribery
18. The Boycott
19. Property Rights and the Theory of Contracts
20. Lifeboat Situations
21. The "Rights" of Animals
Part III: The State Versus Liberty
22. The Nature of the State
23. The Inner Contradictions of the State
24. The Moral Status of Relations to the State
25. On Relations Between States
Part IV: Modern Alternative Theories of Liberty
26. Utilitarian Free-Market Economics
- Introduction: Utilitarian Social Philosophy
- The Unanimity and Compensation Principles
- Ludwig von Mises and "Value-Free" Laissez-Faire
27. Isaiah Berlin on Negative Freedom
28. F.A. Hayek and the Concept of Coercion
29. Robert Nozick and the Immaculate Conception of the State
Part V: Toward a Theory of Strategy for Liberty
30. Toward a Theory of Strategy for Liberty
Release history
- New York University Press. New York, N.Y. February 1, 2003. Paperback. ISBN 0-8147-7559-4
- New York University Press. New York, N.Y. May 1, 1998. Hardcover. ISBN 0-8147-7506-3
- Humanities Press. Atlantic Highlands, N.J. 1982. Hardcover. ISBN 0-391-02371-3
Notes
Links
- Resources page at Mises.org
- Audiobook read by Jeff Riggenbach
- Introduction (French edition)
- Mises Daily excerpts
- Introduction by Hans-Hermann Hoppe
- Part I (Chapters 1-5) Introduction: Natural Law
- Part II: A Theory of Liberty
- Chapters 6-9 "A Crusoe Social Philosophy"
- Chapters 10-11 "When Is a Land Title Criminal?"
- Chapter 12 "Self-defense"
- Chapter 13 "Punishment and Proportionality"
- Chapter 14 "Children and Rights"
- Chapter 15 "'Human Rights' as Property Rights"
- Chapter 16 "Knowledge, True and False"
- Chapter 17 "Bribery"
- Chapter 18 "Boycott"
- Chapter 19 "Property Rights and the Theory of Contracts"
- Chapter 21 "The 'Rights' of Animals"
- Part III (Chapters 22-25) The State versus Liberty
- Part IV: Modern Alternative Theories of Liberty
- Chapter 26 "Utilitarian Free-Market Economics"
- Chapter 27 "Isaiah Berlin on Negative Freedom"
- Chapter 28 "F.A. Hayek and the Concept of Coercion"
- Chapter 29 "Robert Nozick and the Immaculate Conception of the State"
- Part V (Chapter 30) "Toward a Theory of Strategy for Liberty"
- Articles, essays and reviews
- "The Ethics of Adoption in Haiti: A Libertarian Approach " by Eric M. Staib, February 2010
- Mises review: "The Ethics of Liberty" by David Gordon, 1999
- FEE review: "The Ethics of Liberty" by Sheldon Richman, 1998