Libertarianism Defended

by Tibor R. Machan

Ever since the publication in 1974 of Robert Nozick's Anarchy, State, and Utopia, libertarianism has been much discussed within political philosophy, science and economy circles. Yet libertarianism has been so strongly identified with Nozick's version of it that little attention has been devoted to other than Nozick's ideas and arguments. While Nozick's version of libertarianism has preoccupied the academic discussion Nozick himself did not respond to the many criticisms raised and yet other defenders of libertarianism have not remained silent. Jan Narveson, Loren Lomasky, Eric Mack, Douglas Rasmussen, Douglas Den Uyl and many others have contributed impressive arguments of their own in support of the libertarian idea that a political system is just when it successfully secures the rights of individuals understood within the Lockean classical liberal tradition. In this book Tibor R. Machan analyses the state of the debate on libertarianism post Nozick. Going far beyond the often cursory treatment of libertarianism in major books and other publications he examines closely the alternative non-Nozickian defenses of libertarianism that have been advanced and, by applying these arguments to innumerable policy areas in the field, Machan achieves a new visibility and prominence for libertarianism.

Genres: Philosophy

350 pages, Paperback

First published September 28, 2006

About the author

Aryos school of business and economics
Chapman university

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book that posits very challenging defenses against the fashionable communitarian and neo-socialist attacks on freedom and liberty. Machan writes clearly and convincingly and his prose is entertaining--not common in a book of philosophy. To Communitarians, Democrats, Republicans and Socialists, ignore Machan at your peril.