The Two Lineages of Liberty

Tags: Libertarianism, Liberalism, Philosophy

08/31/2026 Philippe Lemieux

The movement toward liberty has roots in two eras, neither of which saw much liberty. One lineage comes from the Enlightenment while the other emanates from ancient philosophers.

Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/two-lineages-liberty

The Mises Institute is a non-profit organization that exists to promote teaching and research in the Austrian School of economics, individual freedom, honest history, and international peace, in the tradition of Ludwig von Mises and Murray N. Rothbard.

Non-political, non-partisan, and non-PC, we advocate a radical shift in the intellectual climate, away from statism and toward a private property order. We believe that our foundational ideas are of permanent value, and oppose all efforts at compromise, sellout, and amalgamation of these ideas with fashionable political, cultural, and social doctrines inimical to their spirit.