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DAVID HART'S WEBPAGE

 

The Classical Liberal Tradition
A Thematic Collection of articles from the Encyclopedia of Libertarianism (2008)
[Created: 13 August, 2024]
[Updated: 22 August, 2024]

Introduction

The Encyclopedia of Libertarianism, ed. Ronald Hamowy (Los Angeles: Sage, 2008. A Project of the Cato Institute).

The Encyclopedia of Libertarianism (2008) is an outstanding introduction to the theory and history of the classical liberal or libertarian tradition. When it first appeared online it retained the structure of the published book version. It has since been merged into the broader libertarianism.org website, which is great pity in my view.

I have reorganised the articles in the EoL in order to make them easier to use. The first version reorganised the entire Table of Contents to make it easier to browse among the entries categorises into "People," "Ideas,", "Movements", "Historical Events and Documents," "Policy Issues," and "Other Topics." The second version (this one here) provides a survey of both the key ideas of the CLT and the history of the main movements and individuals who were involved in its development. I did this in order to fit better with the lectures I have developed over the years on The Classical Liberal Tradition: A 400 Year History of People, Ideas, and Movements for Reform. For those interested in learning more I suggest the following approach:

  • begin with the survey by Steve Davies’ “General Introduction,” pp. xxv-xxxvii
  • then read a selection of articles from the following lists according to your interest. Items in quotes are entries in the EoL.
  • you can then turn to my collection of Quotations about Liberty and Power (organised thematically) and the Reader on Individual, Economic, and Political Liberty to explore these ideas further.
Guides to the Classical Liberal Tradition

This Guide is part of a collection of material relating to the history and theory of classical liberal/libertarian thought:

  1. a series of lectures and blog posts on The Classical Liberal Tradition: A 400 Year History of People, Ideas, and Movements for Reform
  2. The Great Books of Liberty: the large Guillaumin Collection in an "enhanced" HTML format and a citation tool for scholars (nearly 200 titles); and my personal favourites
  3. a collection of 600 Quotations about Liberty and Power from some of the key works in the Classical Liberal tradition. This collection of shorter pieces is organised into 30 topics. Each quotation has a brief commentary.
  4. The Classical Liberal Tradition: A Reader on Individual, Economic, and Political Liberty with a 100 or so chapter-length items to date. Each extract is accompanied by an introduction.
  5. articles from The Encyclopedia of Libertarianism (2008) organised thematically
  6. a collection of 25 key documents in the history of the evolution of our individual, political, and economic rights: On Limiting the Power of the State: A Collection of Petitions, Charters, Decrees, and Declarations of Rights and Liberties (1215-1848)

 

 

Key Ideas in the Classical Liberal Tradition

Basic Principles:

Grounds for Belief:

Processes for Creating a Free Society:

Political and Legal Freedoms:

Economic Freedoms:

Social Freedoms:

  • Equality under the Law - “Equality” (of rights)
  • Toleration of different Ideas and Behaviour (see Freedom of Speech & Religion above)
  • Acts between Consenting Adults - “Presumption of Liberty”

Key Movements and People in the CLT