The Free Society

Drawing on moral, political and economic theory, this book offers a defence of the libertarian vision of the good society. It contrasts consequentialist and Kantian moral visions of society, arguing for the latter as the proper foundation for libertarianism; mutual consent, derived from a fundamental Kantian moral equality, becomes the paradigm for judging relations between persons. The author contends that, if the right of all persons to pursue their own good is taken seriously, then much of government coercion that many take for granted is immoral. Libertarian moral theory is placed in an American historical context - one that is compatible with the view of the foremost Founding Fathers, including Madison and Jefferson. When the Constitution is interpreted according to these political philosophers, the author maintains, then the modern welfare state is unconstitutional. He also offers solutions, most notably to the problem of funding a limited government without violating individual rights, and sets out to show that economic theory is really a logical offshoot of libertarian moral theory.