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Libertarianism: a political philosophy for tomorrow

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It can be very difficult to understand libertarianism as a political party these days because, as with the other parties, famous canidates of third parties (like Harry Browne, Ross Perot, and Jesse Ventura) have somewhat blurred the ideas presented in the philosophy behind it with modern issues, as they should in order to be viable candidates. So when John Hospers presents the ideas of Libertarianism from his viewpoint, in a book written about 1 year before running against Jimmy Carter for president as a Libertarian, it is easy to see where a government like this would have changed America. Sewn seemlessly with dozens of quotes and historical references this book leaves little room to argue that the premise couldn't work. How well it might work is still left to the reader. This book goes bounds beyond politics and enters realms of insightful philosophic depth. Most importantly it is an idea of governing people, as if their lives and happiness do matter more than anything else, more than economy, more than delutions of patriotism. I give it all 5 stars because this book is highly accessable to anyone, unless they typicly enjoy hard to understand political books where government acts in itself and not for it's people.

With a new preface by the author, the phenomenal classic on the American libertarian philosophy is now back in print and available to a new generation of readers interested in the constitutional alternative to socialism and 'liberalism' in the United States. In the tradition of Bastiat, Hazlitt, von Mises, and Ayn Rand, Prof. Hospers dispatches one Big-Government cliché and fallacy after another in clear and understandable English. An important resource in the arsenal of liberty, this 2007 edition includes a new preface by Dr. Hospers which discusses some of the most critical issues facing Americans today. The book that launched a movement can inspire us all again in the struggle to recapture the spirit of American freedom under constitutional law.
Libertarianism: A Political Philosophy for Tomorrow

Many people, especially professional academic philosophers, tend to think that Robert Nozick's Anarchy, State, and Utopia was, if not the very first book ever written on libertarianism, then certainly the first one written on the subject by a distinguished professor of philosophy. Well, they are manifestly wrong on both accounts. It is hard to understand why as John Hospers is widely known among these people, and his other books An Introduction to Philosophical Analysis and Human Conduct: Problems of Ethics are widely used in philosophy courses around the world, and the present book was originally published in 1971, some three years before that of Nozick. One reason why Libertarianism - A Political Philosophy for Tomorrow is not as recognized could be that it is not a very philosophical work despite its author's professional credentials. Hospers ran for president in 1972 for the Libertarian Party in the USA and this book can be seen as his political program. As such it is an apt description of the libertarian position rather than a philosophic treatise. If you want to know what libertarianism is, then the present book is indeed recommended. But if you wish to read something written with a more philosophic approach, I would recommend Jan Narveson's The Libertarian Idea or the above mentioned Anarchy, State, and Utopia.

Reading the present book reinforced my hope that libertarianism really is the political philosophy for tomorrow. Too bad that Hosper did not live to see it as he recently passed away at the impressive age of 93.

Fritz- Anton Fritzson
Lund University,
Sweden