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Well in that case, make sure you look at the Literature page on the Mises Institute.
Literature Library: free books from the Ludwig von Mises Institute
Just about any book you could want on libertarianism is there for free download in PDF or ebook files.
What Kevin says is true. All the best literature on libertarianism is there. Several are available as audio downloads.
I'd start you off with Albert Nock's Our Enemy the State, followed by Frank Chodorov's One is a Crowd.
Bump.
I never do that, normally, but I really want suggestions for reading about Libertarianism.
Make sure you research both sides of the story. Just reading pro-libertarian books will give you a slanted view of the true issues.
Critiques Of Libertarianism
When are you going to start looking at both sides of the story instead of believing the drivel that confirms how stupid you are?
The Anti-Federalist papers are a better source of libertarian like views in the late 18th century.Libertarian concepts are the same concepts that our founding fathers used to create the constitution. If you read the Federalist Papers you can see that the Libertarians want to return to that concept - or as close as we can come to it in today's world.
Yep. For 19th century stuff read Lysander Spooner. His No Treason had a huge impact on me.
Aldous Huxley's Brave New WorldI've called myself a libertarian for years -- since I became completely disillusioned with the Republican Party about 2006.
But I suddenly realized I didn't really know what that meant! I am now finishing up David Boaz' "Libertarianism" and --- I'm in love. I need another good book on Libertarianism, to read next.
Does anyone have a favorite, or suggestions?
Yep. For 19th century stuff read Lysander Spooner. His No Treason had a huge impact on me.
The concept of a contract which nobody alive has signed up for is a good one to spring on the unsuspecting.
Yep. For 19th century stuff read Lysander Spooner. His No Treason had a huge impact on me.
The concept of a contract which nobody alive has signed up for is a good one to spring on the unsuspecting.
Contracts can exist regardless of whether you signed something. Try ordering a meal at a restaurant then refuse to pay because you didn't sign anything in advance. By remaining in a jurisdiction you implicitly agree to the social contract of the area. Don't like it? Move out.
Yep. For 19th century stuff read Lysander Spooner. His No Treason had a huge impact on me.
The concept of a contract which nobody alive has signed up for is a good one to spring on the unsuspecting.
Contracts can exist regardless of whether you signed something. Try ordering a meal at a restaurant then refuse to pay because you didn't sign anything in advance. By remaining in a jurisdiction you implicitly agree to the social contract of the area. Don't like it? Move out.
The concept of a contract which nobody alive has signed up for is a good one to spring on the unsuspecting.
Contracts can exist regardless of whether you signed something. Try ordering a meal at a restaurant then refuse to pay because you didn't sign anything in advance. By remaining in a jurisdiction you implicitly agree to the social contract of the area. Don't like it? Move out.
There is a difference between me ordering something an not paying for it and you saying I agreed to a contract just by being born. I am perfectly free to ignore any social contract without having to move, like the contract that everyone in Utah is a Mormon. That is the wonder of living in a free country.
Yep. For 19th century stuff read Lysander Spooner. His No Treason had a huge impact on me.
Must it always come to the "if you dont like leave" argument with Statists?
Social Contract? I never signed no steenking social contract.
That argument and some of the following libertarian arguments are commonly quoted from Lysander Spooner.
The constitution and the laws are our written contracts with the government.
There are several explicit means by which people make the social contract with government. The commonest is when your parents choose your residency and/or citizenship after your birth. In that case, your parents or guardians are contracting for you, exercising their power of custody. No further explicit action is required on your part to continue the agreement, and you may end it at any time by departing and renouncing your citizenship.
Immigrants, residents, and visitors contract through the oath of citizenship (swearing to uphold the laws and constitution), residency permits, and visas. Citizens reaffirm it in whole or part when they take political office, join the armed forces, etc. This contract has a fairly common form: once entered into, it is implicitly continued until explicitly revoked. Many other contracts have this form: some leases, most utility services (such as phone and electricity), etc.
Some libertarians make a big deal about needing to actually sign a contract. Take them to a restaurant and see if they think it ethical to walk out without paying because they didn't sign anything. Even if it is a restaurant with a minimum charge and they haven't ordered anything. The restaurant gets to set the price and the method of contract so that even your presence creates a debt. What is a libertarian going to do about that? Create a regulation?
Critiques Of Libertarianism: A Non-Libertarian FAQ.
Yep. For 19th century stuff read Lysander Spooner. His No Treason had a huge impact on me.
Spooner, although excellent at articulating his points, was a self proclaimed anarchist.
I've called myself a libertarian for years -- since I became completely disillusioned with the Republican Party about 2006.
But I suddenly realized I didn't really know what that meant! I am now finishing up David Boaz' "Libertarianism" and --- I'm in love. I need another good book on Libertarianism, to read next.
Does anyone have a favorite, or suggestions?
