Liberalism : In the Classical Tradition [Paperback]

Ludwig Von Mises (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Cobden Press (1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0930439236
• ISBN-13: 978-0930439231
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,273,897 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential ... "for the future", February 2, 2008

By 

Andrew S. Rogers (Houston, Texas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Liberalism : In the Classical Tradition (Paperback)

Years ago, when I was in college and my instinctual attachment to libertarian principles was stronger than my philosophical and economic grounding in them, a friend gave me a copy of this book. On the flyleaf, he inscribed it to me with, he wrote, "best wishes for you and the future of classical liberalism."

He could hardly have chosen a better book for helping ensure my own future as a classical liberal. As a "gateway drug," so to speak, for the works of Ludwig von Mises and the Austrian School generally, "Liberalism" is a wonderful way to go. In barely 200 pages, Mises (as translated by Ralph Raico) lays out all the central ideas and themes of liberalism properly understood, and helps the reader see how ideas of economics, politics, history, sociology, and philosophy all fit together in one unified, consistent world view.

It's probably a testimony to my own interests that I find the section on liberal foreign policy the most interesting and inspiring -- as well as timely when re-read in 2008 -- although the parts on liberal economic policy, and liberalism and parliamentarism, are certainly just as important. Though "Liberalism" *can* be a quick read, it of course also repays close reading and careful study. I would certainly not recommend it be read to the exclusion of Mises' other works, but as a bracing intellectual refresher -- or, as my friend clearly saw, an introductory work to someone in need of an intellectual grounding in principles only incompletely understood -- it is very hard to beat.

5.0 out of 5 stars AN INTERESTING AND SOMETIMES SURPRISING WORK BY MISES, February 13, 2012

By 

Steven H. Propp (Sacramento, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Liberalism : In the Classical Tradition (Paperback)

Ludwig Heinrich Edler von Mises (1881-1973) was one of the major figures in the Austrian School of economics; Nobel Prize winner Friedrich Hayek was a pupil of his.

This book was written in 1927 (but not published in English until 1962); Mises wrote in the Preface, "I tried to give a summary of the ideas and principles of that social philosophy that was once known under the name of liberalism... All I wanted to achieve was to offer to the small minority of thoughtful people an opportunity to learn something about the aims of classical liberalism and its achievements and thus to pave the way for a resurrection of the spirit of freedom AFTER the coming debacle."

He notes early on, "Liberalism is not anarchism, nor has it anything whatsoever to do with anarchism." (Pg. 37) But he worries that as soon as we surrender the principle that the state should not interfere in any questions touching on the individual's mode of life, "we end by regulating and restricting the latter down to the smallest detail." (Pg. 54)

Some of Mises' modern fans may be distressed to read passages such as this: "It is not at all shameful for a man to allow himself to be ruled by others. Government and administration, the enforcement of police regulations and similar ordinances, also require specialists: professional civil servants and professional politicians... There is not the slightest reason to object to professional politicians and professional civil servants if the institutions of the state are democratic." (Pg. 40-41)

He also admits that "There is no possible way of establishing by an objective criterion whether a district or a province is being administered badly, cheaply, or expensively." He adds, "Even the question whether a particular bureau is necessary... can only be decided on the basis of considerations that involve some amount of subjectivity." (Pg. 98) (One wonders how, say, Murray Rothbard would have commented on such passages.)

This is one of Mises' more interesting books, and is of definite interest to modern students of Austrian economics.