Category Archives: Libertarian Thought

Classical liberalism vs. libertarianism

Posted on January 24, 2020 by Arnold Kling

John O. McGinnis writes, Tocqueville recognized that civic mediating institutions and the habits they inculcated were essential to a free society. Victorian liberals supported aid to the poor but, as the late great historian Gertrude Himmelfarb has described, sharply distinguished … Continue reading →

Posted in Libertarian Thought | 19 Comments

Prestige hierarchy and dominance hierarchy

Posted on January 16, 2020 by Arnold Kling

Humans have two types of hierarchies–prestige hierarchies and dominance hierarchies. I admit that there are some cases where a hierarchy is not clearly one or the other, but bear with me. A prestige hierarchy is positive sum. Those at the … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, Libertarian Thought | 15 Comments

The UK political extinction event

Posted on January 10, 2020 by Arnold Kling

William Galston writes (Link fixed), Prime Minister Boris Johnson campaigned as the second coming not of Margaret Thatcher but of Benjamin Disraeli. His pledge of “one-nation Conservatism” means his government will lavish funds on long-neglected parts of central and northern … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Three-Axes Model | 25 Comments

Europe in the 19th century

Posted on January 6, 2020 by Arnold Kling

Alberto Mingardi paints a rose-colored picture. While no government adhered religiously to the principles of laissez faire, nineteenth-century Europe represents perhaps the best approximation of the ideal. Free trade, championed by England, swept away most protectionist measures; durable goods and … Continue reading →

Posted in books and book reviews, Economic History, Libertarian Thought | 17 Comments

Should libertarians heart state capacity?

Posted on January 4, 2020 by Arnold Kling

Tyler Cowen thinks they should. State Capacity Libertarians are more likely to have positive views of infrastructure, science subsidies, nuclear power (requires state support!), and space programs than are mainstream libertarians or modern Democrats. This is the most interesting post … Continue reading →

Posted in Libertarian Thought, Tyler Cowen is my Favorite Blogger | 42 Comments

Essay backup: persuasion mode and demonization mode

Posted on December 25, 2019 by Arnold Kling

relates to the three-axes model

Posted in Three-Axes Model | Comments Off

Essay backup: three problems with capitalism

Posted on December 25, 2019 by Arnold Kling
Posted in Libertarian Thought | Comments Off

On wicked problems and public policy

Posted on December 22, 2019 by Arnold Kling

Following a trail from this comment, I got to a 1973 paper by Horst W. J. Rittel and Melvin M. Webber. The problems that scientists and engineers have usually focused upon are mostly “tame” or “benign” ones. . .the mission … Continue reading →

Posted in business economics, Libertarian Thought | 8 Comments

Essay backup: what I’m afraid to say in synagogue

Posted on December 20, 2019 by Arnold Kling

written after the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting

Posted in Libertarian Thought | 8 Comments

Essay backup: confusion of the libertarians

Posted on December 19, 2019 by Arnold Kling

we’ve been deserted, left and right.

Posted in Libertarian Thought | 8 Comments