Month: April 2022

[Note: This post is part of a series on the History of the Classical Liberal Tradition] In another post I focus on the “Twelve Key Ideas” which I believe defines what it means to be a “classical” liberal, rather than a modern or “new” liberal who holds views which are inconsistent (even incoherent) and is … Read more

[Note: This is an updated version of “The Key Ideas of Classical Liberalism: Foundations, Processes, Liberties” (23 June 2015) here.] [Note: This post is part of a series on the History of the Classical Liberal Tradition] In a recent post I discussed the “ends” that CLs sought and “the means” which they believed would help … Read more

Date: 22 Apr. 2022 [Note: This post is part of a series on the History of the Classical Liberal Tradition] This is an outline/overview of my Lecture/Seminar and extended paper on the history of the Classical Liberal tradition. It consists of the following sections: Introduction: What is Liberalism? CL and the State Liberal Ideas Key … Read more

[Note: This post is part of a series on the History of the Classical Liberal Tradition] Introduction Following the rise to power of Louis Napoleon, who declared himself Emperor Napoléon III in 1852, the radical French CL and political economist Gustave de Molinari (1819-1912) gave a lecture at the Musée royale de l’industrie belge in … Read more

[Note: This post is part of a series on the History of the Classical Liberal Tradition] Some people can see the logic in applying political, moral, and economic principles consistently and avoiding contradictions which make being consistent impossible. Thus for example, if you really do believe that profit, interest, and rent are immoral (as many … Read more

[Note: This post is part of a series on the History of the Classical Liberal Tradition] [See also another post on “Plotting Liberty: The Multi-Dimensionality of Classical Liberalism and the Need for a New ‘Left-Right’ Political Spectrum” (17 April, 2022) here.] Another aspect to consider is the multi-dimensional nature of liberalism. The one dimensional political … Read more

[Note: This post is part of a series on the History of the Classical Liberal Tradition] The Multi-Dimensional Nature of Liberty The full richness and complexity of the nature of Liberty is not well appreciated by most observers, especially mainstream media journalists and political scientists. In other posts I have explored the relationship between the … Read more