The Austrian School of economics arose in opposition to the German Historical School; and Carl Menger developed his methodological views in combat with the rival group. Gordon discusses the philosophical doctrines of the Historical School, and examines some of the philosophical influences on the founders of the Austrian School.
This monograph was prepared from a transcript of a talk Dr. Gordon gave at the Mises University summer program at Stanford University in 1994. The informal style of an oral presentation has been retained here. The text has been edited, expanded, and lightly documented.
David Gordon is Senior Fellow at the Mises Institute and editor of the Mises Review.
In this week’s Friday Philosophy, Dr. David Gordon reviews John C. Calhoun’s A Disquisition on Government, published in 1850. Like Murray Rothbard before him, Dr. Gordon finds plenty to like in this book.
Reading this book confirms Charles Tansill’s emendation of a familiar saying: “The paths of military glory lead but to the grave.” When one considers the horrors of war for the combatants, Rothbard’s argument that the costs of war are virtually never worth paying is strengthened.
In today's Friday Philosophy, Dr. David Gordon revisits The Calculus of Consent by James Buchanan and Gordon Tullock, considered a "classic" by mainstream economists. Murray Rothbard, however, dissented loudly.
