The Encyclopedia of Libertarianism

Editor/Author: Hamowy, Ronald
Publication Year: 2008
Publisher: Sage Publications

ISBN: 978-1-4129-6580-4
Category: social sciences
Image Count: 1
Book Status: Available

The Encyclopedia of Libertarianism is purposed to be a useful compilation of and introduction to libertarian scholarship. The Encyclopedia starts with an introductory essay offering an extensive historical and thematic overview of key thinkers, events, and publications in the development of libertarian thought.

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This work is the most comprehensive reference source available on libertarianism. Hamowy describes libertarianism as a doctrine that espouses human autonomy and freedom to make personal decisions unimpeded by institutional interference: "So long as decisions are made freely and do not directly harm ... [other people, only] moral suasion and not force" based on laws should be used to persuade a person to alter decisions. The introduction traces how contemporary libertarianism evolved out of 19th-century classical liberalism and 20th-century economic theories. Essays focus on policy issues (gambling, privatization, taxation, welfare state); topics (abolitionism, democracy, government, natural law); and people (Ludwig von Mises, Murray Rothbard, Friedrich Hayek, David Hume, Thomas Jefferson) who contributed to the libertarian movement or whose work is interpreted as relevant to libertarian ideology. The essay writers are mainly academic scholars, but others work at think tanks, particularly the Cato Institute, a bastion of libertarian thought. Essayists typically describe and analyze libertarian thought on subjects but also argue the libertarian viewpoint. The work is scholarly but seeks to support libertarian ideas. References to "further readings" follow essays, and a helpful topic guide and subject index are included.
D. A. Lincove
Ohio State University