The Ethics of Liberty

The Ethics of Liberty, by American economist and historian Murray N. Rothbard, first published in 1982, is an exposition of the libertarian political position. It roots the case for freedom in the concept of natural rights and applies it to a host of practical problems.

Hans-Hermann Hoppe, who wrote the introduction to later editions of the book, has described the 273-page The Ethics of Liberty as Murray Rothbard's second magnum opus, the other being Man, Economy, and State.

Contents
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" ! Contents

Part I: Introduction: Natural Law
1. Natural Law and Reason

2. Natural Law as "Science"

3. Natural Law Versus Positive Law

4. Natural Law and Natural Rights

5. The Task of Political Philosophy

Part II: A Theory of Liberty
6. A Crusoe Social Philosophy

7. Interpersonal Relations: Voluntary Exchange

8. Interpersonal Relations: Ownership and Aggression

9. Property and Criminality

10. The Problem of Land Theft

11. Land Monopoly, Past and Present

12. Self-Defense

13. Punishment and Proportionality

14. Children and Rights

15. "Human Rights" as Property Rights

16. Knowledge, True and False

17. Bribery

18. The Boycott

19. Property Rights and the Theory of Contracts

20. Lifeboat Situations

21. The "Rights" of Animals

Part III: The State Versus Liberty
22. The Nature of the State

23. The Inner Contradictions of the State

24. The Moral Status of Relations to the State

25. On Relations Between States

Part IV: Modern Alternative Theories of Liberty
26. Utilitarian Free-Market Economics 27. Isaiah Berlin on Negative Freedom
 * Introduction: Utilitarian Social Philosophy
 * The Unanimity and Compensation Principles
 * Ludwig von Mises and "Value-Free" Laissez-Faire

28. F.A. Hayek and the Concept of Coercion

29. Robert Nozick and the Immaculate Conception of the State

Part V: Toward a Theory of Strategy for Liberty
30. Toward a Theory of Strategy for Liberty [[Media:Example.ogg]]
 * }

Release history

 * New York University Press. New York, N.Y. February 1, 2003. Paperback. ISBN 0-8147-7559-4
 * New York University Press. New York, N.Y. May 1, 1998. Hardcover. ISBN 0-8147-7506-3
 * Humanities Press. Atlantic Highlands, N.J. 1982. Hardcover. ISBN 0-391-02371-3

Links

 * (including full text)
 * Audiobook read by Jeff Riggenbach
 * Introduction (PDF) (French edition)
 * Mises Daily excerpts
 * Introduction by Hans-Hermann Hoppe
 * Part I (Chapters 1-5) Introduction: Natural Law
 * Part II: A Theory of Liberty
 * Chapters 6-9 "A Crusoe Social Philosophy"
 * Chapters 10-11 "When Is a Land Title Criminal?"
 * Chapter 12 "Self-defense"
 * Chapter 13 "Punishment and Proportionality"
 * Chapter 14 "Children and Rights"
 * Chapter 15 "'Human Rights' as Property Rights"
 * Chapter 16 "Knowledge, True and False"
 * Chapter 17 "Bribery"
 * Chapter 18 "Boycott"
 * Chapter 19 "Property Rights and the Theory of Contracts"
 * Chapter 21 "The 'Rights' of Animals"
 * Part III (Chapters 22-25) The State versus Liberty
 * Part IV: Modern Alternative Theories of Liberty
 * Chapter 26 "Utilitarian Free-Market Economics"
 * Chapter 27 "Isaiah Berlin on Negative Freedom"
 * Chapter 28 "F.A. Hayek and the Concept of Coercion"
 * Chapter 29 "Robert Nozick and the Immaculate Conception of the State"
 * Part V (Chapter 30) "Toward a Theory of Strategy for Liberty"


 * Articles, essays and reviews
 * Mises review: "The Ethics of Liberty" by David Gordon, 1999 (republished as Mises Daily here)
 * FEE review: "The Ethics of Liberty" by Sheldon Richman, 1998
 * FEE review: "The Ethics of Liberty" by Sheldon Richman, 1998


 * Other media
 * The Ethics of Liberty lecture by Roy A. Childs, Jr., Summer 1983


 * Related courses
 * Libertarian Ethics Mises Academy course by David Gordon