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The Machinery of Freedom: Guide to a Radical Capitalism
This book argues the case for a society organized by private property, individual rights, and voluntary co-operation, with little or no government. David Friedman's standpoint, known as 'anarcho-capitalism', has attracted a growing following as a desirable social ideal since the first edition of The Machinery of Freedom appeared in 1971. This new edition is thoroughly revi
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Paperback, 2nd, 288 pages
Published
April 1st 1989
by Open Court Publishing Company
(first published 1973)
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Community Reviews
(showing 1-30)
This was recommended to me as the best case for anarchocapitalism... if this is true, then I did not find the strongest arguments for anarchocapitalism (or libertarian anarchy) compelling enough. It is an interesting case that Friedman makes, when he states that socialism would only work if it was populated by saints, and anarchy would only fail if its filled with demons.
Ostensibly, the argument is that for imperfect beings, anarchocapitalism is the best arrangement. The costs of violence or im ...more
Ostensibly, the argument is that for imperfect beings, anarchocapitalism is the best arrangement. The costs of violence or im ...more
This book was disappointing. Instead of crafting a convincing argument, it seemed like Friedman was writing to an audience of believers. He often spends no more than three pages on a complex topic, like how national security would work without a centralized state, then satisfied that he has made his case, moves on to something much more inane.
There were some interesting ideas about the morality of government and the practical aspects of anarcho-capitalism, but they were too intertwined with half ...more
There were some interesting ideas about the morality of government and the practical aspects of anarcho-capitalism, but they were too intertwined with half ...more
Excellent book. Anyone who wants an understanding of how individuals interact and solve problems freely, without government should read this book. David Friedman does a marvelous job of explaining how property rights is the key to a just and prosperous society and how government mucks up just about everything it gets power over. You will be amazed at how logical and practical totally free markets are.
I recently (3-18-12) re-read about 2/3 of the book about 25-30 years after first reading it. It ...more
I recently (3-18-12) re-read about 2/3 of the book about 25-30 years after first reading it. It ...more
It was a little too extreme in parts for my taste, and I found myself saying, hey, that would never work in parts, but hey, you gotta appreciate the spirit, haha. Definitely worth a read in the spirit of thinking out of the box a bit.
“There is no way to give a politician power that can be used only to do good.” – p17
This guide to anarcho-capitalism turned out to be less definitive than I had hoped. The book is filled with truths derived from libertarian thought and pro-capitalist economics though with regard to a few issues, most noteably the core issue of property rights, the defense is not so much a proof as it is a best-case scenario. For example, how private property rights over natural resources (ie. land) are initiall ...more
This guide to anarcho-capitalism turned out to be less definitive than I had hoped. The book is filled with truths derived from libertarian thought and pro-capitalist economics though with regard to a few issues, most noteably the core issue of property rights, the defense is not so much a proof as it is a best-case scenario. For example, how private property rights over natural resources (ie. land) are initiall ...more
A very well-thought out, provocative read. I would recommend this for anyone, though chiefly Friedman seeks to convince the non-libertarian. He identifies himself alternately as classical Liberal, Goldwater conservative, libertarian, and/or anarcho-capitalist. Overall, he makes penetrating arguments using principally a pragmatic focus on outcomes. He does delve into moral philosophy at points, though he seems to exhibit some skepticism of morality generally (his description of himself as a Catho
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UPDATE: David Friedman himself responded to this review in the comments. I am a firm believer in hearing both sides before passing a verdict, so: Please read his feedback. It is succinct enough that I don't think I have to summarize it.
The Machinery of Freedom differs from the anarchocapitalist mainstream, as established by Murray Rothbard, in two aspects: Economically, David Friedman stands in the tradition of the Chicago School, not the Austrian School; ethically, he is a utilitarian, and does ...more
The Machinery of Freedom differs from the anarchocapitalist mainstream, as established by Murray Rothbard, in two aspects: Economically, David Friedman stands in the tradition of the Chicago School, not the Austrian School; ethically, he is a utilitarian, and does ...more
The main body of the book itself is predictably well-executed but will probably leave most libertarians nodding their heads and everybody else scratching theirs – in 160 pages Friedman discusses all the classic ways in which private property and absence of coercion can lead to a well-functioning society that requires little state (Part II) or no state (Part III). Part II is perfectly reasonable and almost practical, part III is a theoretical pipe dream, logically consistent but almost surely imp
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This was a pretty good book. Maybe I was too familiar with Rothbard when I gave his book only 3 stars. In any case, there were a few downsides to this book, but somewhat negligible. To be ironic, the benefits exceeded the costs in reading this book. The pros: Friedman takes a refreshing approach instead of the hard-headed Austrian natural rights approach, he covers many different topics, much of it might appeal to somebody who is not buying the natural rights approach. The cons: Friedman speaks
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This book is great for introduction to libertarian (or anarcho-capitalism) ideas to someone not familiar with them but also for “already convinced” libertarians or anyone who only roughly knows what it means, but otherwise cannot imagine living in society without a government.
Friedman does not write from ideological (moral) perspective, his approach is highly practical. Being economist he rather focuses on efficiency of how mechanics of society work now and how they would work in market driven w ...more
Friedman does not write from ideological (moral) perspective, his approach is highly practical. Being economist he rather focuses on efficiency of how mechanics of society work now and how they would work in market driven w ...more
The worst book I have ever read. This book is a series of statements that are designed solely for the converted and not supported by facts (there are no sources in the book). Friedman does not argue his case, he simply states it in a ridiculously over-simplified and unrealistic manner. It does not acknowledge possible criticism but rather defeats strawmen. It draws a false dichotomy by implying that you are either a libertarian or a communist. The only theory he criticises is Marxism, as though
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I'm a big fan of David Friedman. His flavor of libertarianism is very close to mine (in contrast to Misesian or Randian approaches). In this book he lays out his argument for anarcho-capitalism while commenting on a wide range of issues--which brings me to my primary criticism. Now in its third edition, the book is a bit like an onion with newer layers tacked on to older ones. That's not necessarily a problem, but it does give the book a piecemeal feel in places. I particularly enjoyed the origi
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Aug 18, 2014
John Backus
added it
One of the most thought provoking books I've read in a while. Convinced me to change some pretty core beliefs.
Interesting Quotes:
"The direct use of physical force is so poor a solution to the problem of limited resources that it is
commonly employed only by small children and great nations."
David Friedman, The Machinery of Freedom: Guide to a Radical Capitalism, Third Edition
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"Since the function of politics is to reduce the diversity of individual ends to a set of 'common ends' (the ends of the majority, the dictator, the party in power, or whatever person or group is in effective co ...more
"The direct use of physical force is so poor a solution to the problem of limited resources that it is
commonly employed only by small children and great nations."
David Friedman, The Machinery of Freedom: Guide to a Radical Capitalism, Third Edition
----------------------
"Since the function of politics is to reduce the diversity of individual ends to a set of 'common ends' (the ends of the majority, the dictator, the party in power, or whatever person or group is in effective co ...more
Oct 03, 2013
Chris Collins
added it
A very interesting read about how society might function without government. Not without laws, mind you, but without government. Where things are handled on a voluntary basis and why this may be a better form of social interaction than the ones previously, and currently, attempted. I enjoyed the scenarios he posed to libertarians; from the rigidity of simple moral claims to whether or not something like electoral success of the Libertarian Party is desirable.
The more I read, the more frustrated ...more
The more I read, the more frustrated ...more
This book accomplishes what it promises like a wrecking ball. With the exception of the tiny chapter called 'Open The Gates' which is an incomprehensible stain on this otherwise very good book. Somehow in this chapter Friedman ceases to want to provide persuasive arguments.
I take the Hoppean perspective on the issue because it sounds much more convincing.
I take the Hoppean perspective on the issue because it sounds much more convincing.
This book is a must read for libertarians (and even libertarian haters...haters should at least be informed about what they are hating about, right?). The book is free on David Friedman's website (Google it), so all the better. This is the best written book I have read in a long time. The author presents a lot of clarity and insight in very concise writing. For example, he says "Special interest politics is a simple game. A hundred people sit in a circle, each with a pocket full of pennies. A po
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Reading this book was probably the pivotal moment when I realized that anarcho-capitalism really is bullshit, and really has not been thought out very well.
I would rate it highly as an attempt to construct a sensible model for how such a society would work, but in attempting to spell out the details it became clear to me how far we are from having any solid picture of anarcho-capitalism. Most of the ideas people have who think along these lines are little more than a cartoon, the kinds of things ...more
I would rate it highly as an attempt to construct a sensible model for how such a society would work, but in attempting to spell out the details it became clear to me how far we are from having any solid picture of anarcho-capitalism. Most of the ideas people have who think along these lines are little more than a cartoon, the kinds of things ...more
La obra que concentra el análisis consecuencialista de David Friedman, desarrolla algunas reformas que se pueden aplicar en la sociedad actual que nos podrían ayudar a alcanzar más libertad, luego hace un análisis de lo que podría ser una sociedad anarco-capitalista desde el punto de vista utilitarista cuestionándose algunas de las propuestas de los libertarios que razonan desde el derecho natural (iusnaturalistas) aunque siendo sincero no me convencieron algunas aunque podrían ser debatibles (s
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This is fascinating reading no matter your political leanings, which discusses the fundamentals of liberty. It suggests the most interesting approach to social order I've ever read, that being anarcho-capitalism, in which people voluntarily subscribe to potentially overlapping systems of law and order. While I don't think it's likely to ever happen (at least not until humans venture commercially into space), the questions this book raises about liberty and property rights are immediately valuabl
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A great look at libertarian and anarcho-capitalist principles from a consequentialist perspective. Friedman argues that we should support private law not out of some moral obligation, but because it will create better outcomes for more people than the system we have now (or any possible future system).
While some of the sections (particularly the one on foreign policy) are somewhat dated, most of the book is relevant to today. I can only wonder what the section on private currency would have been ...more
While some of the sections (particularly the one on foreign policy) are somewhat dated, most of the book is relevant to today. I can only wonder what the section on private currency would have been ...more
The book gives a pragmatic framework of how a stateless society could work. In other words, it answers the "without government, who'd build the roads, who'd heal the sick, who'd teach our children" type of questions, and does this in a very insightful and persuasive way. These pragmatic chapters are interspersed with short & witty passages about libertarianism. My favorite one is the following:
“The direct use of physical force is so poor a solution to the problem of limited resources that it ...more
“The direct use of physical force is so poor a solution to the problem of limited resources that it ...more
I expected another worthy introduction to Libertarianism, but that's not what this is. Friedman does lay out the usual arguments about use of force and individual freedom. He extends from there into two less typical lines of thought. First, he introduced me to the ideas underlying anarchism, and how it means self-organized, mutual decision-making rather than complete chaos. He also provides a very thoughtful grounding in political philosophy, exploring the connections between libertarianism, uti
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Fun reading in the "selling a stateless society" genre. Like a utilitarian version of Rothbard's "For a New Liberty" He starts off with pretty mainstream libertarian stuff but as the book goes on he pushes it into stateless society territory awwwwww yeah. His best stuff is on polycentric legal firms/security firms/courts/etc.
He also isn't "vulgar" at all, in the sense that he doesn't often apologize for existing "capitalist" institutions, nor is he distracted by capitalist socialist word games.
A ...more
He also isn't "vulgar" at all, in the sense that he doesn't often apologize for existing "capitalist" institutions, nor is he distracted by capitalist socialist word games.
A ...more
A conversational overview of anarcho-capitalism. Always interesting, frequently enlightening, Friedman makes the case for a stateless society and offers some fascinating thought experiments in how it could work. The book is nearly forty years old, and in some chapters Friedman almost eerily prescient predicting the rise of Uber, Lyft, and EZ-Pass.
The book is a bit unfocused, particularly the third edition which I read. the first three sections are the best, with the later sections feeling a bit ...more
The book is a bit unfocused, particularly the third edition which I read. the first three sections are the best, with the later sections feeling a bit ...more
A rather interesting work in defense of free market anarchism; I liked Friedman's pragmatic, down-to-earth approach for explaining how such a society would work for the benefit of everyone, and how we could actually peacefully transition from the current system to such a society. However, I found the book rather fragmented, with many issues covered a bit too superficially. That is understandable, because each of these issues merits its own book, and it's not possible for a single author to cover
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Friedman uses a utilitarian approach to libertarian ideas in this book.
Already being familiar with those I really enjoyed the second half of the book where he writes specifically to libertarians. The arguments he makes for making a utilitarian approach to spread libertarian principles rather than a moral approach to libertarianism is interesting. He talks about how both have their weaknesses. I've heard of anarchist Iceland, it was nice to read about a brief history of that period.
Already being familiar with those I really enjoyed the second half of the book where he writes specifically to libertarians. The arguments he makes for making a utilitarian approach to spread libertarian principles rather than a moral approach to libertarianism is interesting. He talks about how both have their weaknesses. I've heard of anarchist Iceland, it was nice to read about a brief history of that period.
A great read. High recommend
David Friedman is a great thinker and an amazing writer. He gives great practical arguments in this book, and it's a lovely read -- especially on the kindle. Although I wish he elaborated more on some of his topics, it's still a very logically thought out book. I highly recommend this book to readers who are just learning about anarcho capitalism and readers who are well educated on the subject. A great book overall.
David Friedman is a great thinker and an amazing writer. He gives great practical arguments in this book, and it's a lovely read -- especially on the kindle. Although I wish he elaborated more on some of his topics, it's still a very logically thought out book. I highly recommend this book to readers who are just learning about anarcho capitalism and readers who are well educated on the subject. A great book overall.
Very readable and a good introduction to many anarcho-capitalist subjects. It is less robust and in-depth than other treatments like from say, Rothbard, but his practical/utilitarian approach makes it a fresh and worthy reading. The chapters on private law, courts, justice, defense, etc are excellent. Others were a bit terse and lacking somewhat. Nonetheless, still a great book on ancapism and should be read by all.
anarchy comes in many shapes and sizes. capitalism and economic anarchy are terribly close in ideology and david friedman demonstrates this very well in The Machinery of Freedom. i don't agree with everything he writes, but he makes very clear arguments for his perspective and his economic insight is superb (having learned at the feet of the master!)
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I am an academic economist currently employed as a law professor, although I have never taken a course for credit in either field. My specialty, insofar as I have one, is the economic analysis of law, the subject of my book _Law's Order_.
In recent years I have created and taught two new law school seminars at Santa Clara University. One was on legal issues of the 21st century, dis ...more
More about David D. Friedman...
I am an academic economist currently employed as a law professor, although I have never taken a course for credit in either field. My specialty, insofar as I have one, is the economic analysis of law, the subject of my book _Law's Order_.
In recent years I have created and taught two new law school seminars at Santa Clara University. One was on legal issues of the 21st century, dis ...more
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“Part of freedom is the right of each of us to go to hell in his own fashion.”
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“But property rights are not the rights of property; they are the rights of humans with regard to property. They are a particular kind of human right.”
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