Libertarianism is both old and new. It is rooted in ancient ideas of natural justice, fairness, peace, and cooperation. You could even say that any civilized society is already somewhat libertarian. After all, civilization requires peace and cooperation, which imply respect for others’ rights. This is what the libertarian seeks. To be sure, there
In my article “ Argumentation Ethics and Liberty: A Concise Guide ,” I noted that for some time I’ve thought of putting together some material into an “argumentation-ethics reader” book. However, logistic, copyright, and other issues would delay the preparation and actual publication of a book for a long time (at best)—and since most of the pieces
I’ve disagreed before with J. Neil Schulman on IP issues — see Kinsella v. Schulman on Logorights and IP . Here’s an edited version of a query I put to him on Facebook this morning: Neil, in your Logorights article , you say (if you’ll forgive me copying your pattern): if you think creation isn’t essential to the origin of property–then compose
Back in 2006, Objectivist Greg Perkins wrote a defense of IP entitled Don’t Steal This Article!: On the Libertarian Critique of Intellectual Property . Perkins’s post was part of an attempt by Objectivists to mount a defense of IP given the mounting opposition to IP among libertarians (see The Death Throes of Pro-IP Libertarianism ) and even among
In my post Patents Kill: Compulsory Licenses and Genzyme’s Life Saving Drug , I noted that, due to the monopoly granted by patent (yes, it is a monopoly ), people are literally dying because the drug Fabrazyme is in short supply and the sole, monopolistic manufacturer, Genzyme, can’t make enough quickly enough–and no one else is permitted to make
My article, “ Intellectual Freedom and Learning Versus Patent and Copyright ,” was published today in Economic Notes (No. 113, Jan. 18, 2011), a publication of the UK-based Libertarian Alliance. (This article is based on my speech of Nov. 6, 2010, at the 2010 Students for Liberty Texas Regional Conference, University of Texas, Austin; audio and
I have previously estimated that the patent system imposes at least $42 billion in net loss to the economy annually ( Costs of the Patent System Revisited ). As Mike Masnick notes in his Techdirt post Patent Trolls Cost The Economy Half A Trillion Dollars , a stunning new study by James Bessen, Michael Meurer, and Jennifer Ford, The Private and
The Beeb will be broadcasting a “Keynes vs. Hayek debate” (held at the London School of Economics) next week–perfect timing, right in the middle of Mises University . George Selgin represents the Austrian side. Details below (h/t Robert Groezinger): LSE and BBC Radio 4 public debate Date: Tuesday 26 July 2011 Time: 6.30-8pm Venue: Old Theatre,
Regarding my previous post Keynes vs. Hayek BBC debate at the London School of Economics , here is a nice report on the event, which took place yesterday, from John Phelan at the Cobden Centre blog: Hayek vs Keynes at the LSE By John Phelan, on 27 July 11 July 26 th saw one of the most eagerly anticipated economic events of recent years. At the
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.