Libertarianism: what everyone needs to know

Jason Brennan

Oxford, 2012

Abstract

Libertarianism is a political philosophy that emphasizes individual liberty as the central requirement of justice. Libertarians argue that people should be free to live their lives as they see fit, so long as they do not violate the rights of others. They believe that government should be limited to protecting individual rights and providing essential public goods. This book provides an introduction to libertarianism, exploring its core principles, historical context, and applications to contemporary issues, such as economic freedom, social justice, and civil rights. The book also addresses common misconceptions about libertarianism and examines the influence of libertarian ideas in American and global politics. – AI-generated abstract

Quotes from this work

Looking back, […] almost every war every country has fought was a mistake. When we consider fighting a new war, we are tempted to believe this war is an exception to the rule. But this belief is itself unexceptional.

exceptionalism · war
pp. 80-81

A material egalitarian might say, “Some are rich and some are poor, so we should try to be more equal.” In contrast, libertarians say, “The problem isn’t that some people have more; it’s that some people don’t have enough. The poor of the third world die of starvation and disease, not inequality.” Classical and neoclassical liberals are not material egalitarians, but are instead welfarists, sufficientarians, and/or prioritarians.

p. 155