Philosophy and Methodology

The economist’s lot is to study a field in which, almost more than any other, human folly displays itself. 

Many Americans now believe in a version of "freedom" which is nothing of the sort — because it requires more violent coercion exercised by government agents.

Hazlitt sees clearly that because capitalism promotes freedom, justice and productivity it has far more right to be called "social" (or "moral") than socialism which in its despotism actually promotes a code of immorality.

If you want to know what Rothbard’s vision applied to contemporary America would be like in practice, you should look to Ron Paul. Dr. Paul’s career in Congress, marked by his opposition to war and the Fed, is the best example of the anti-elitist free market values that Murray supported.

Henry Hazlitt has done us a great service, for it is a rare philosopher who recognizes that the consistent adherence to a set of ethical rules promotes social cooperation and benefits everyone in society.

The idea that some groups in society attempt to exploit others was first an insight of the free-market liberals. It was later ripped off and modified by the Marxists.

Bob discusses Kurt Gödel's now-famous "incompleteness theorems," which showed the limitations of axiomatic systems of mathematics.

No one could have admired and respected Ludwig von Mises more than did Murray Rothbard, who dedicated his magnum opus in economic theory, Man, Economy, and State, to his great mentor. Yet Rothbard did not shy away from criticizing Mises when he believed such criticism to be called for.

Rothbard characterized socialism as the “violent abolition of the market.”

The people must constantly keep their Government small and local, and even then must watch it with great vigilance lest it run amok. That is the great Jeffersonian lesson, and it is one that all Americans must begin to learn again.