Critics of Austrian economics often condemn Mises as dogmatic, but in fact he advocated a very commonsense method of procedure for economics. He developed his views in reaction to criticisms of economics by the German Historical School, on the one hand, and the logical positivists, on the other. Both of these movements sought to undermine economic
Ayn Rand polarizes people. To her enemies, she was a vicious person who taught a gospel of unconcern for others. One of her critics says that she was “eerily ignorant of all the interesting problems of ontology, epistemology, or logic.” Her followers, by contrast, rank her as one of the foremost philosophers of all time. Her system of Objectivism
Those of us who are libertarians often cannot understand why everyone else is not a libertarian too. Isn’t the case for freedom easy to make and, once grasped, utterly convincing? Most contemporary moral and political philosophers think otherwise, though; they reject libertarianism and demand a more egalitarian system. This course will
Many people would like to learn economics but are discouraged when they look at difficult textbooks filled with mathematics. Fortunately, the basic principles of Austrian economics are easy to learn. Austrian economics uses a common-sense method of reasoning, and once you see it in action, you will be able to understand why popular policy measures
[ Neoconservatism: An Obituary for an Idea • By C. Bradley Thompson with Yaron Brook • Paradigm Publishers, 2010 • Xii + 305 pages] C. Bradley Thompson argues that neoconservatism stands in fundamental opposition to individual rights and a free economy. To most of us, neoconservatism is inevitably associated with the Iraq War. A group of
[ The Conscience of an Anarchist: Why It’s Time to Say Good-Bye to the State and Build a Free Society • By Gary Chartier • Cobden Press, 2011 • X + 118 pages] “Chartier’s book is vital reading for libertarians.” Gary Chartier is a difficult author to review. In this excellent book , he displays a remarkable ability to discuss a profusion of
Rothbard modified the famous dictum of Marx: he wished both to understand and change the world. He endeavored to apply the ideas he had developed in his theoretical work to current politics and to bring libertarian views to the attention of the general public. One issue for him stood foremost. Like Randolph Bourne, he maintained that “war is the
“ I support Rothbard, so students may enjoy the conflicts sure to arise between Danny and me.” In The Ethics of Liberty , Murray Rothbard proposed a natural-law foundation for libertarianism. In doing so, he rejected as not fully adequate the distinctive brand of utilitarian ethics defended by his teacher Ludwig von Mises. Was he correct in his
“War is the health of the state.” These famous words of Randolph Bourne have been confirmed throughout the course of American history. This course will examine the origins of a number of America’s wars. In each case, we will study the real origins of the war and compare this with the officially circulated mythology. All too often, America’s wars
This outstanding book was ten years in the making, but it is finally here and the result is startling. It is a pocket edition, super economical, 525 pages of Turgot - the bulk of his life’s work, all beautifully organized. He might have been the key influence on Jefferson but, in any case, he certainly was the great French liberal of the 18th
What is the Mises Institute?
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.