Realizing Freedom: Libertarian Theory, History, and Practice

by Tom G. Palmer

What is freedom? How is freedom related to justice, law, property, peace, and prosperity? Tom Palmer has spent a lifetime-as a scholar, teacher, journalist, and activist-asking and answering these questions. His best writings are now collected in Realizing Libertarian Theory, History, and Practice. Palmer's work ranges from the theory of justice to multiculturalism, democracy and limited government, globalization, the law and economics of patents and copyrights, among many other topics. These essays have appeared in scholarly journals and in such newspapers as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and London Spectator. His work is accessible to scholars and thoughtful citizens alike. Palmer has smuggled photocopiers and fax machines into the Soviet Union; organized movements against the draft, taxes, censorship, and victimless crime laws; and ceaselessly promoted freedom in the most hostile locations, from communist Europe and China to Iraq to the halls of academe.

Genres: Philosophy

496 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2009

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book from a member of Cato Institute plainly stating that without law there can be no freedom, and from that point he establishes his libertarian philosophy. I'm listing the sections of this book because it covers so many things I feel it would be helpful for the reader to read over what this book covers.

Contents 1. Introduction 1 PART I: THEORY 11
2. Freedom Properly Understood 13 3. Myths of Individualism 33 4. Saving Rights Theory from Its Friends 41 5. No Exit: Framing the Problem of justice 85 6. G. A. Cohen on Self-Ownership, Property, and 129 Equality 7. Twenty Myths about Markets 155 8. What's Not Wrong with Libertarianism 183 9. The Role of Institutions and Law in Economic 205 Development

PART II: HISTORY 219 10. Classical Liberalism and Civil Society 221 11. Classical Liberalism, Marxism, and the Conflict of 255 Classes: The Classical Liberal Theory of Class Conflict 12. The Great Bequest 277 13. The Millennial Struggle for Liberty 287 14. Why Socialism Collapsed in Eastern Europe 289

PART III: PRACTICE 297 15. Madison and Multiculturalism: Group 299 Representation, Group Rights, and Constitutionalism 16. Globalization and Culture: Homogeneity, 349 Diversity, Identity, Liberty 17. Infrastructure: Public or Private? 379 18. Future Schlock: Government Planning for 389 Tomorrow 19. Against Taxes 393 20. Hothouse of Hate 397 21. Census 2000: You May Already Be a Winner! 401 22. The Egyptian Judiciary Blazing the Path to 405 Democracy and Economic Development 23. The "Crime" of Blogging in Egypt 409 24. Six Facts about Iraq 411 25. Moscow's Pride and Prejudice 417 26. Challenges of Democratization 419

PART IV: BOOKS AND IDEAS 423 27. The Literature of Liberty 425 28. With Friends Like This 477 29. The Elitist as Egalitarian 483 30. On Nationality 493 31. Libertarianism in the Crosshairs 499 32. John Locke Lite: The Strange Philosophy of a 509 "Left Libertarian" 33. Liberal Flagship Turns 70, Burning the Midnight Oil 515.

I find the arguments in this book pretty hard to disagree with. Though I do disagree with libertarians on certain ethical stances, I always enjoy reading them because they challenge our sloppy government ways on every front. There are a few sure outcomes that you'll get when you read this, you'll understand more about the worlds advances & problems, you'll get a sinking feeling you've been had in America, and if you're an avid reader you'll find out about a dozen more books you may want to read adding a little anxiety to your life over a new pile of books.

[David Robins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative and well-researched series of essays on liberty and refuting illiberal arguments. Some quotations:

The production and distribution of government services is guided not by profit possibilities, based on consumer preferences and production costs, but by the electoral aspirations of politicians and the budget-maximizing activities of bureaucrats.