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Modern Libertarian: Philosophy an Uncertain Lineage

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Syracuse University SURFACE Syracuse University Honors Program Capstone Syracuse University Honors Program Capstone Projects Projects Spring 5-1-2013 Modern Libertarian: Philosophy An Uncertain Lineage Ian Ludd Syracuse University Follow this and additional works at: https://surface.syr.edu/honors_capstone Part of the Ethics and Political Philosophy Commons, and the Political Theory Commons Recommended Citation Ludd, Ian, "Modern Libertarian: Philosophy An Uncertain Lineage" (2013). Syracuse University Honors Program Capstone Projects. 40. https://surface.syr.edu/honors_capstone/40 This Honors Capstone Project is brought to you for free and open access by the Syracuse University Honors Program Capstone Projects at SURFACE. It has been accepted for inclusion in Syracuse University Honors Program Capstone Projects by an authorized administrator of SURFACE. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Modern Libertarian Philosophy An Uncertain Lineage A Capstone Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of the Renée Crown University Honors Program at Syracuse University Ian Ludd Candidate for B.A. Degree and Renée Crown University Honors May 2013 Honors Capstone Project in Political Science Capstone Project Advisor: _______________________ Professor Elizabeth Cohen Capstone Project Reader: _______________________ Professor Jerry Evensky Honors Director: _______________________ Stephen Kuusisto, Director Date: May 6, 13 Abstract This study examines the true nature of libertarian political philosophy, avoiding reductive arguments and attempting to present these positions in a holistic manner that cuts to the core of what distinguishes this philosophy as being unique. The study then challenges the libertarian claim that many highly praised and well-respected historic political and economic philosophers are their philosophical antecedents. The study examines the political philosphies of Classical Liberal thinkers and well-respected economists, presenting their positions in the same holistic manner and avoiding any selective quoting that serves only to oversimply the complexity of their arguments. The challenge of the study will be to effectively extract the core meaning and logic in the texts examined, and contrast those meanings to the libertarian position. 2 Table of Contents Abstract……………………………………….……………….………….. 1 Acknowledgements ………….…………………………………………… 3 Introduction ……………………………………………………………… 4 Chapter 1: Modern Libertarianism .……..…………………..………… 7 -The Cato Institute: Libertarianism, an Introduction -Aaron Ross Powell of Libertarianism.org -Jan Narveson and Robert Nozick -The Negative Liberties of Libertarian philosophy Chapter 2: John Locke ……..…………………………………………… 17 -Examining the Two Treatises -Locke on Property, Liberty, and just Governance Chapter 3: Cato’s Letters ……………………………………………… 27 -John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon: Revolutionary Essayists -The role of the individual in a society of limited, just governance -Property rights and the legitimate extent of government action Chapter 4: Adam Smith ………………………………………………… 37 -Chicago School of Economics v. Smith’s Ideal Liberal Society -The role of government in the Ideal Liberal Society -Smith the Moral, Political, and Economic Philosopher -The liberal plan of equality, liberty, and justice. Chapter 5: F.A. Hayek and Milton Friedman ………………………… 47 -Hayek: Separating “primative” morals from governance -Hayek: The essentials of liberty and the role of government -Is Hayek libertarian? A base level of guaranteed income -Friedman: Limiting government and encouraging choice -Friedman: Equality vs. Liberty -Friedman: a degree of paternalism and drawing the line Chapter 6: Conclusion ……………………………………………….… 59 -Drawing the Line -Libertarianism: A radical philosophy -The hard line on property rights -Uncompromising ideology and the consequence for political debate Works Cited.……………………………………………………………… 69 Summary of Capstone Project………………………………………….. 71 3 Acknowledgements . For My Parents Who have always put up with my insanity with understanding and love, and who have made me the man I am today. Their support has made all the diffence in getting through this trying year. For Professor Elizabeth Cohen Who sparked my interest in political philosophy, agreed to guide me through this process, and without whom this project would never have been possible. For Professor Jerry Evensky Who showed me early in my college career an invaluable perspective for examining human behavior, whose patient tutelage has helped guide me through my academic career, and whose book on Adam Smith provided the basis for a chapter in this paper. For Professor Robert D. McClure Whose challenge to a young senior in high school lead that young boy to commit to Syracuse University, and whose profound advice and demanding classes drastically improved his writing and perspective on life, citizenship, and democratic leadership. For Hanna Richardson Without whom I would never have made it through these past three years at Syracuse University, let alone the Renée Crown Honors program. Her advice and help made all the difference. For Syracuse University My home. A place that will never leave my heart. 4 Introduction The 2010 mid-term Congressional election saw 69 non-incumbent Republican Representatives elected to Congress on a wave of discontent with the perceived growth of the role of government (“The pendulum”). The cry for smaller government and a reduction in taxes seemed to materialize almost spontaneously in the form of the Tea- Party protests. Two major Tea Party groups, Freedom Works, and Tea Party Express endorsed a total of 196 candidates nationwide, at various levels of office. Of those candidates, 155 were elected to office. Most of these candidates were Republicans, and none were Democrats (“Tea Party”). Today, many of these “tea-party” Republicans still successfully block the passage of bills and appointments to positions they believe to infringe upon the liberty of the American people or interfere with free-market processes. For example, for nearly two years after the formation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, created by the Dodd-Frank Act and designed to regulate banking industries, Republican legislators succeeded in blocking the appointment of a director to this new Bureau. In order for the position to be filled, President Obama was required to make a recess appointment to appoint Richard Cordray as director. This cry for a reduction in the size and scope of government is not one that necessarily characterized the Republican Party in the past. The deficit accumulated over the Bush years and during times of a Republican held Congress is comparable to that accumulated by Democrats (Bloch). The notion of minimal government spending and intrusion, not only in financial sectors, but also in all matters regarding social life, seems to stem from a different source. The most prominent advocates for small government and 5 extremely limited intrusion on individual liberties have been those who subscribe to the “Libertarian” political philosophy. Recently such libertarians have gained national attention in the form of Congressman and past Presidential Candidate Ron Paul, his son Senator Rand Paul, and the 2012 Presidential candidate Gary Johnson. In the 2012 election, Johnson ran the most successful Libertarian campaign for President in the party’s nearly 41-year history receiving 1,139,562 votes nationwide (Harrington). Although this amounted to only roughly 1 percent of the national vote, the influence of libertarian philosophies and policy suggestions has seemed to grow substantially, especially among young voters (Harrington). Libertarian policy suggestions of social tolerance on issues like drugs and gay marriage have had a strong draw on such young voters who also support a reduction in the size of government and scope of its intervention in market activities and redistributive programs ( Libertarians) . Although this perceived growth in discussion of libertarianism has introduced many to certain policy subscriptions advocated by Libertarians, it has left much to be desired with regards to the core and origin of their political philosophy. Many of the introductory writings on libertarianism are vague and seem to claim a wide variety of political philosophers as their own. General statements on “individual liberty” and claims that philosophers ranging from John Locke to F.A. Hayek to Robert Nozick are proponents of a libertarian political philosophy introduce a variety of questions about the true nature of that philosophy. In this work, I will attempt to uncover what distinguishes the libertarian political philosophy as a unique perspective on the role of governance and nature of liberty, and compare that philosophy with those philosophers that they claim as their forefathers. In 6 Chapter One, I will begin with arguments made by modern libertarian philosophers such as Robert Nozick and Jan Narvesson, and try to identify the core of their argument for liberty and minimalist government. I will then examine in Chapters Two and Three the libertarian claim of many Classical Liberal thinkers such as John Locke the author of Two Treatises on Government and John Trenchard and Joseph Gordon, the authors of Cato’s Letters , determining whether such a connection can be drawn. Chapters Four and Five will concern the arguments of economists and political philosophers, starting with an examination of Adam Smith in Chapter Four then proceeding to the arguments of F.A. Hayek and Milton Friedman
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