[15] in libertarians
Laissez Faire Book News: CHOICE, CONTRACT, CONSENT
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Chris Whitten)
Thu Jun 23 22:04:50 1994
Date: Thu, 23 Jun 1994 21:56:54 -0400 (EDT)
From: Chris Whitten <whitten@panix.com>
Apparently-To: <libertarians@mit.edu>
A splendid restatement of classical liberal principles
CHOICE, CONTRACT, CONSENT
A Restatement of Liberalism
by Anthony de Jasay
(reviewed by Tom G. Palmer)
Modern political thinking can be dull, as Harvard
philosopher John Rawls has amply demonstrated. We're grateful for
the libertarian and classical liberal writers in political
philosophy, such as Robert Nozick, who have written in a lively
way about important problems of justice and liberty! Writing in
the same free market tradition and with a lively, very
accessible, and truly delightful style is Anthony de Jasay, a
brilliant defender of liberty, constitutional government, and
free markets.
Jasay, an escapee from totalitarian government in Hungary,
taught economics at Oxford University before becoming a
successful investment banker in France and then returning to
writing economics and political philosophy at a very high level.
His command of English is beautiful, much like another witty
Hungarian emigre, Thomas Szasz, and his insight into weighty
problems of political philosophy is keen.
CHOICE, CONTRACT, CONSENT is de Jasay's very readable--and,
like Nozick, often quite amusing--restatement of classical liberal
principles. Jasay argues that the principles of the free society
can be stated in precise, self-evident (or easily defended) form
and that it was precisely the lack of precision on the part of
earlier liberals that spawned such miscarriages as "American
liberalism" (a la JFK, LBJ, and the like), "social liberalism,"
and so forth. Real liberalism--often referred to as classical
liberalism--is about putting limits on coercive power, rather than
simply applying power to "good" ends. And in order to limit
government power, we must be precise in our use of such terms as
"rights," "contract," "collective choice," and the like. Jasay
challenges our prejudices and makes us think systematically and
clearly about these issues. And he manages to be engaging and
enjoyable at the same time that he makes us work!
Those interested in contemporary political theory will find
Jasay's discussion of such important figures as Rawls, Dworkin,
Nozick and others instructive. And anybody interested in the
foundations of the free society will find CHOICE, CONTRACT,
CONSENT absolutely indispensable.
I recommend this short and readable book very, very highly.
Book No. PP6110 (paperback) 124p. $10.95
_______________________________________________________________________
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Thank you,
Chris
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Chris Whitten whitten@panix.com
Laissez Faire Books 1-800-326-0996
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