Tag: morality
Three pro-liberty perspectives on war
October 31, 2023 | Post
War, a tragic yet perennial facet of human history, has long been a subject of intense debate. Many philosophers and political thinkers have grappled with the ethical, moral, and strategic implications of war. Within this nuanced landscape, the perspectives of three influential thinkers offer a fascinating contrast…
Socialism is immoral. This Soviet refugee tells us why
October 20, 2023 | Post
The most compelling case for why socialism is immoral comes from someone with first-hand experience. This is the story of a Soviet refugee, one whose experiences and insights lay bare a truth that challenges the very foundations of socialism.
Notes from the bubble
October 4, 2017 | Post
We treat those we believe to be ill-motivated as adversaries to be defeated, and we frequently have no compunction about excluding them from our “disinterested pursuit of truth.”
Will capitalism kill its own culture?
September 5, 2017 | Post
To gain a proper appreciation of the free market and its benefits, we need to also become aware of its weaknesses.I have written previously at Learn Liberty about how 20th-century economist Wilhelm Röpke argued that while the free market has the capacity to encourage morality, other institutions—like families and churches — are a more reliable […]
The moral dimensions of liberty; Why goodness requires freedom
March 16, 2017 | Post
Freedom is an essential component of human morality at all levels.
The battle to make America wet again
March 8, 2017 | Post
The forgotten story of how American women turned the tide against Prohibition and reclaimed the moral high ground from the dry movement.
Here are 10 classic films that will make you question government
March 5, 2017 | Post
Whether you’re a casual moviegoer or a diehard cinephile, you will learn a lot about government from watching these ten great movies, all of which are rated as being some of the best of all time by IMDb and the American Film Institute.
Was Jeremy Bentham a Classical Liberal at heart?
February 15, 2017 | Post
Jeremy Bentham was born on Feb. 15th, 1748, in Spitalfields, England. One of the main early advocates of utilitarianism — the ethical view that, roughly, an act is right insofar as it promotes happiness, and wrong insofar as it does not — he is best known for his view that “it is the greatest happiness […]
The moral and spiritual blessings of trade among all nations
February 7, 2017 | Post
Free trade doesn’t just make us better off. It makes us better people. Donald Trump claims that raising barriers to trade is one of the things it will take to “Make America Great Again,” but he is wrong. Greatness—both of wealth and of moral character—comes from trade. And we have known this for a very […]
Everybody missed the point of Westworld
January 17, 2017 | Post
Westworld is first and foremost a depiction of the corrosive nature of total power — an illustration of Lord Acton’s quote that “absolute power corrupts absolutely” — as seen through the character of Dr. Robert Ford.
Rogue One and the Politics of Star Wars
December 29, 2016 | Post
As Tyler Cowen puts it, in many ways “this is the real Star Wars movie that many of you have been waiting for.”
What makes a person a person?
December 26, 2016 | Post
Personhood is a moral concept, related to the notion of individuality.
The right to die: Anti-euthanasia laws make no sense
December 9, 2016 | Post
Do you have a right to die? The answer is not straightforward.
A hero is worth 1,000 words
November 12, 2016 | Post
Truly virtuous behavior cannot be compelled. Demonstrating virtue and consequently inspiring people to be virtuous is a fundamental and necessary component of a free society.
Americans Owe It to Themselves to Consider Reparations for Marginalized Minorities
June 22, 2016 | Post
Property rights are key for a free society. Since they set out what belongs to whom, they are the foundation for human freedom. Property norms tell us who can do what, with what, and to whom. When securely guaranteed, property rights offer a basis (if not the best basis) for predictability and stability. As social […]
How to Talk About Politics Without Sounding Like a Jerk
March 21, 2016 | Post
A lot of people – especially the kind of people who read blogs like this! – have very strong views about politics. This is especially true when our political views are based on moral views. If we think that universal health care is a good idea because we think it’s likely to result in more […]
Are you an authoritarian?
February 10, 2016 | Post
In a recent Politico story, Matthew MacWilliams identified the one trait which predicts if you’re a Trump supporter. It wasn’t gender, race, age, income, or religion. It’s authoritarianism. Max Borders has broken down what makes someone authoritarian over at FEE’s blog in a great piece: Beware Your Inner Authoritarian. He explores the foundations of people’s […]