Introduction package for libertarianism!
|
|
|
V
Edit: I've been upgraded! Check out the new /r/libertarian "wiki" page for even more resources and all further updates!
^
|
|
|
Hello! I've been around here a while, so I've decided I'd like to make a big drop of books, images, videos and just things in general that I think people might like to look at. I'll put ones that I consider especially good in bold. I'm also trying to keep this to relatively short things as well and easy to understand. If any of you have some suggestions, I can add that as well! Enjoy!
Subject to occasional edits if I can think of anything new or get suggestions.
Start here!
First let's figure out what political alignment you're closest to already! Try taking these political quizes:
The World's Smallest Political Quiz
Perhaps you already know or think you know, but please go through these test anyways to at least get you started thinking about what your position really is and how consistent it is with everything else you believe.
While you go through these works, you might enjoy the 30 Day Reading List Challenge! It will cover a nice variety of libertarian topics.
Recommended
-
The Law by Frederic Bastiat
-
How an Economy Grows and Why It Doesn't by Irwin Schiff
-
Economics in One Lesson by Henry Hazlitt
-
Time Will Run Back by Henry Hazlitt
-
What Has Government Done to Our Money? by Murrary Rothbard
-
Anatomy of the State - by Murray Rothbard
-
For a New Liberty: The Libertarian Manifesto by Murray Rothbard
-
The Production of Security by Gustave de Molinari
-
No Treason by Lysander Spooner
Principles
- READ THIS ONE FIRST!
The Law by Frederic Bastiat - A fantastic look at the proper place of the law and how it has been perverted into legal plunder, as explained by Bastiat in 1850. This is the best pamphlet I know of that explains the libertarian ideal. Read it. Highly recommended.
- Short and Simple
The Philosophy of Liberty - The basics of libertarian philosophy brilliantly and simply laid out.
The Philosophy of Liberty: Property - Have you ever asked the question of "who owns you"?
The Philosophy of Liberty: Plunder - If vikings hire the mafia to steal your TV, is it still illegal?
Pirates and Emperors - An ancient roman parable told in "Schoolhouse Rock!" style.
The Non-Aggression Principle - A song about coercion and when it is and is not appropriate.
Make Mine Freedom - A 1948 cartoon about the importance of freedom and the free enterprise system.
You are a slave to the Government - A beautiful talk on governmental tyranny.
Milton Friedman - Greed - Isn't capitalism just basing society on selfishness and greed?
The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible - Libertarian morals told as parables! The top Philosophy of Liberty video was based on a section of this book.
- General Analysis
Freedom, Inequality, Primitivism, and the Division of Labor by Murray Rothbard - An essay on the nature of man and of society.
Our Enemy, the State by Albert Jay Nock - One of the great classics in defining the differences between the state and society. Jeff Tucker approved!
The Science of Justice by Lysander Spooner - Spooner talks of some implications of self-ownership.
Vices are Not Crimes by Lysander Spooner - The distinction between morality and legality.
More in-depth "greats" are put in the "Advanced" section below!
- Anarcho-Capitalism
- Short and Simple
Law Without Government - How can there be law when there is no government? Highly recommended.
The Machinery of Freedom: Illustrated Guide by David Friedman - How can private security companies relate to each other? Won't that just result in constant war? Highly recommended.
Why Libertarianism is Dangerous - The "horrors" of anarchy!
But Wouldn't Warlords Take Over? by Robert Murphy - Won't anarchy just result in another state to fill the "power vacuum"?
You Can Always Leave - How can government be tyrannical if you're free to leave the country?
The Tale of the Slave by Robert Nozick - Does voting turn slaves into free men?
If You Were King by Larken Rose - How would you fix the world if you were king?
Top 10 Reasons Why the Mafia Would Be Better Than the State - This one's self explanatory and awesome.
- Lectures
The State is Not Great by Jacob Spinney - A general overview of anarcho-capitalism.
The Market for Security by Robert Murphy - A more in-depth look into how a security market can function, including discussions on national security and a prison system.
- AnCap Greats
The Production of Security by Gustave de Molinari - The first anarcho-capitalist book ever written (although the term anarcho-capitalism came later) that even holds up today. Talks about matters in a very easy to understand manner. Highly recommended.
No Treason by Lysander Spooner - Possibly the greatest argument for anarchy ever written showing how the Constitution is not a legally binding contract. Highly recommended.
Power and Market, Chapter 1: Defense Services on the Free Market by Murray Rothbard - Rothbard analyzes how a market may be established for security services.
Chaos Theory by Robery Murphy - A look at private law, defense, and the importance of insurance in handling legal affairs.
Application
- General
For a New Liberty: The Libertarian Manifesto by Murray Rothbard - Rothbard lays out the libertarian position and how it applies to a wide variety of issues. I'll post individual chapter sections that are particularly relevant throughout the application section. Highly recommended.
Defending the Undefendable by Walter Block - Block looks at different occupations that are frowned upon in society, but are consistent with libertarian principle.
- The Draft
Involuntary Servitude - Conscription - Why slavery isn't dead.
- Education
Education: Free and Compulsory by Murray Rothbard
Education is NOT the Same as Schooling
Why is Higher Education More Expensive?
We Don't Need No (Public) Education
Sheldon Richman on Separating School and State
Indoctrination in Common Core ELA Text
- Environmentalism
Law, Property Rights, and Air Pollution by Murray Rothbard
Conservation, Ecology, and Growth
Can Hunting Endangered Animals Save the Species?
Ghostbusters Hates the EPA and So Should You
- Free Speech
Personal Liberty - Freedom of Speech
- Gun Control
Toward a Universal Libertarian Theory of Gun Control
- Healthcare
How Government Solved the Healthcare Crisis
A Four-Step Healthcare Solution
Involuntary Servitude - Compulsory Commitment
-Intellectual Property
- Jury Duty
Involuntary Servitude - The Courts
An Essay on the Trial by Jury by Lysander Spooner
- Police
- Public Sector Unions
Behold! Your Public Sector Unions at Work.
-TEH ROADS?!?!
John Stossel - The Case for Private Roads
The Privatization of Roads and Highways by Walter Block - A lengthy look at the roads question.
- Sex Laws
Personal Liberty - Pornography
See "Defending the Undefendable" above, chapters 1 - The Prostitute, 2 - The Pimp, and 3 - The Male Chauvinist Pig.
- The State
Anatomy of the State by Murray Rothbard - An explanation of what the state is not, what it is, and how it functions. Audio versions of Chapter 1 and Chapter 2. Here's a full audio read-through. Highly recommended.
- Taxes
Involuntary Servitude - The Tax System
- War
Human Action: The Economics of War (advanced analysis)
- Welfare
George Ought to Help - A look into the nature of government welfare and taxation.
Economics
- Short and Simple
Trade is Made of Win - Don't forget to check out Learn Liberty's other videos!
The Broken Window Fallacy - The economic fallacy that gives birth to all other economic fallacies.
I, Pencil - A famous economic essay showing the importance of the division of labor and the near miraculous nature of how it all works without a central planner.
The Candlemaker's Petition by Frederic Bastiat - Bastiat writes a fake petition from the producers of light in France for the government to ban the sun.
Fight of the Century: Keynes vs. Hayek Round Two (this is a sequel to "Fear the Boom and Bust" a Hayek vs. Keynes Rap Anthem)
Deck the Halls with Macro Follies - Another EconStories video singing about the views of Keynes and Hayek again, but also including their respective influences of Malthus and Say!
Posted Aug 25, 2013, 5:55 AM UTC · edited