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Realizing Freedom: Libertarian Theory, History, and Practice |  | Author: Tom G. Palmer
Publisher: Cato Institute
Category: Book
List Price: $29.95
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Rating:  7 reviews
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Pages: 496
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.9
Dimensions (in): 9.4 x 6.3 x 1.4
ISBN: 1935308114
Dewey Decimal Number: 320.512
EAN: 9781935308119
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Product Description
What is freedom? How is freedom related to justice, law, property, peace, and prosperity? Tom Palmer has spent a lifetime-as a scholar, teacher, journalist, and activist-asking and answering these questions. His best writings are now collected in Realizing Freedom: Libertarian Theory, History, and Practice. Palmer's work ranges from the theory of justice to multiculturalism, democracy and limited government, globalization, the law and economics of patents and copyrights, among many other topics. These essays have appeared in scholarly journals and in such newspapers as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and London Spectator. His work is accessible to scholars and thoughtful citizens alike. Palmer has smuggled photocopiers and fax machines into the Soviet Union; organized movements against the draft, taxes, censorship, and victimless crime laws; and ceaselessly promoted freedom in the most hostile locations, from communist Europe and China to Iraq to the halls of academe.
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 7
A Great Collection of Effective and Enjoyable Essays September 2, 2009
Alexander Pitsinos (Davidson, NC USA)
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
Tom Palmer masterfully examines the ideas of liberty in Realizing Freedom: Libertarian Theory, History, and Practice. The breadth of this examination is remarkable. As the volume's subtitle suggests, the essays discuss both the theoretical and the practical, and Palmer effectively engages the reader regardless of whether he is writing for an academic or popular audience.
Readers with a general interest in political theory, economics or history will enjoy essays like "Twenty Myths about Markets," in which the author considers and answers common ethical and economic critiques of market economies. Another piece, "Why Socialism Collapsed in Eastern Europe," reflects on socialism's failed promises and its profound effect on the political culture of that region. The serious student of political philosophy ought to read "No Exit: Framing the Problem of Justice," wherein Palmer conducts a serious and rigorous analysis of John Rawls' theory and draws attention to some of its potentially illiberal implications.
Those more steeped in libertarian or classical liberal thought may appreciate "What's Not Wrong with Libertarianism," in which Palmer discusses the relationship between a theory of rights and the importance of evaluating consequences. While some critics charge that it is contradictory to promote a theory of natural rights and then employ empirical evidence to support those rights claims, Palmer deftly makes the case for compatibility and highlights the poor assumptions of such criticism. In an included book review, Palmer assesses an attempt to hijack the term "libertarian" by a proponent of "radically egalitarian redistribution." This book review, titled "John Locke Lite," illustrates Palmer's ability to communicate complicated theory clearly and convincingly. I even found it humorous!
This volume is a delight. Palmer has a wonderful talent for making deep ideas accessible. His passion for freedom is exceptional and leaves the reader inspired. These essays belong in your collection.
A timely collection of brilliant and provocative papers in defense of open society. October 16, 2009
Maria J. de Calderon (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
In our time, the open society around the world has come under severe attack including in the United States, going back to at least Franklin Roosevelt's administration and continuing more recently with the administration of George W. Bush (who relied on state intervention "to save the free market" sic) and that of Barack Obama. Individual rights are being replaced by affirmative action; private property is undermined by socialist ecology; the war on drugs is destroying individual liberties; state education (as opposed to "public education" because private education is also for the public) has turned into indoctrination; public expenditure, federal debt and fiscal deficits are increasing at an exponential rate; compulsory bailouts with other peoples' resources are paving the way for another crisis; legislation is on its way to intensify socialized medicine; the so-called Social Security program will soon go bankrupt; the monetization of debt and the manipulation of interest rates by the Federal Reserve are destroying the dollar; and there are always new wars to fight in the name of security.
In this climate of affairs nothing could be more timely than the collection of brilliant and provocative papers by Dr. Tom G. Palmer, Realizing Freedom: Libertarian Theory, History and Practice, published by the Cato Institute. Civilization means understanding and endorsing certain values and principles, which in turn depends on an open debate of ideas. This collection of essays provides a unique and insightful perspective on classical liberalism. Palmer's arguments are powerful and combine the abstract with the tangible in unusually well written and thoroughly researched essays. They are a philosophical feast, touching on a board range of topics. It is an honest and outspoken voice. It is entertaining and enlightening. The essays are a sweeping blow to those who advocate collectivism and they reinforce the stand of those of us who believe that a free society is a much better place to live for all persons of good will.
Alberto Benegas-Lynch, Jr.
National Academy of Sciences
Buenos Aires , Argentina
One Of The Best Analyses of Freedom September 3, 2009
Alexander McCobin (Washington, DC)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Dr. Palmer's book, Realizing Freedom, is sure to become a must-read for all students of liberty, no matter their age. It accomplishes two distinct and particularly meaningful tasks in its exploration of the topic of freedom that fit its incredibly apt title. On the one hand, Palmer helps the reader realize the meaning of freedom by offering some of the most coherent and logical defenses of liberty against common misunderstandings and inaccurate arguments. On the other hand, Palmer lays out a sound strategy for realizing freedom in our life-time, not merely as an intellectual construct for academics to argue over, but as a value that guides policy decisions and right of people everywhere to enjoy.
The first task of explaining the meaning of freedom and defending it from common criticisms, is what most people will take away from the book and is one of its very clear purposes. Palmer clearly lays out just what the concept of freedom entails in all of its aspects from the structure of the book, anticipating many questions that readers would normally have. What's more, Palmer takes on some of the most difficult problems facing the philosophy of freedom and answers them head on from everything such as the Marxist conception of class conflict and the dominance of Rawlsian political theory today.
The second accomplishment of the book may be an indirect effort on Palmer's part, or at least something that seems to be pushed toward the end, but Palmer offers the reader a clear conception of how to realize freedom in our lifetime. Instead of relegating his work to the intellectual debates of what liberty would be in a hypothetical world, he presents freedom as something that we should and could see if properly defended and promoted in the real world. As Palmer writes in his introduction, he desires "to make a difference for freedom, for justice, for the rule of law, and for peace and toleration." The very tone of this book and the suggestions for policy improvements throughout make his dedication to realizing freedom clear and his strategy for doing so even clearer. What he offers as a strategy is perhaps the most appropriate: seeking to persuade others to the superiority of freedom over authoritarianism and working with others rather than intentionally alienating them.
In addressing both issues, Palmer has provided an ideal book for readers of any level of interest in the topic of freedom. Whether you are just beginning to intellectually explore the concept of liberty or if you are well-versed in classical liberalism, this book will provide you with an engaging and thought-provoking read.
A Fantastic Resource for Libertarians August 12, 2009
G. Newburn (Gainesville, Florida)
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
Dr. Tom G. Palmer, Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute and Director of the Atlas Foundation's Global Initiative for Free Trade, Peace, and Prosperity, has been studying, writing about, and educating others about classical liberalism and libertarianism for decades. Those familiar with Dr. Palmer's work know he is deeply committed to human freedom. That commitment is evident in each essay of "Realizing Freedom," which represents the culmination of a life's work spent fighting for a free society.
The book's subtitle is also its organization. In the first section, "Theory," Palmer lays out a powerful method for how to think about freedom. From rights theory, to individualism, to defending classical liberalism from various theoretical attacks, Palmer's essays in this section alone are worth the price of the book.
The second section, "History," is equally interesting and useful. Here Palmer gives useful lessons on the struggle for liberty, the growth of civil society, the historical peculiarities that led to the rule of law and limits on government power, and more. Again, were this section the only one, the book would be worth its price.
The third section, "Practice," contains both longer theoretical essays (including a great piece on Madison's constitutionalism and an essay on globalization and culture that is pound-for-pound the best in the book) and shorter, op-ed style writings about contemporary issues (including Palmer's take on an Egyptian blogger jailed for the "crime" of criticizing Egypt's president).
Finally, the fourth section acts as a kind of bonus, consisting mostly of various book reviews that take aim at contemporary criticisms of classical liberalism and libertarianism, and is worthwhile in its own right.
"Realizing Freedom" leaves hardly any subject about libertarian "theory, history, and practice" untouched. It's a fun, intellectually stimulating read. It is also unique, because it's as appropriate for those just beginning their study of liberal ideas as it is for those who think they've already learned it all. "Realizing Freedom" should be on the bookshelf of anyone who takes ideas - libertarian or otherwise - seriously; you'll be glad you bought it.
A brilliant and timely argument for freedom December 15, 2009
Alex Korbel (Brussels, Belgium)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Realizing Freedom: Libertarian Theory, History, and Practice will be an outstanding addition to every scholar of liberty's list of classical texts. The book gives a deep picture of what freedom means, and shows how libertarian radical ideas are in many ways far more engaged, functional, and reasonable in their approach to today's issues than conventional wisdom suggests.
Palmer guides readers through the different intellectual and practical challenges libertarians have to face today. This unique text gives a solid understanding of the nature of freedom, justice, and the morality of markets. It also explores the long tradition of classical liberalism and how it relates to struggles for liberty today. The third section of the book moves the focus on current events and concerns. For example, the chapter entitled "Madison and Multiculturalism" offers a detailed overview of American multiculturalism, but it's not limited to the US. Palmer's logical and careful analysis will be very useful to any freedom advocate confronted by the advocates of collective rights in her own country. The author also dissects the arguments of many different political theorists, such as John Rawls, G.A. Cohen, Stephen Holmes, Cass R. Sunstein, Attracta Ingram, and John C. Calhoun and provides critical guides to important works. One of the last chapters, called "The Literature of Liberty", offers a superb bibliography for those who wish to explore further both libertarian and anti-libertarian ideas.
Some thoughts I found very interesting that recurred through the book:
- The importance of the rule of law as a necessary basis for any sustainable political and economic development;
- The necessity to search through every society's historical heritage and cultural environment in order to discover their indigenous narratives of liberty;
- The essential role of ideas in setting-up the best intellectual matrix for the libertarian movement and to keep collectivism in all its forms at bay;
- A call for vigorous but careful advocacy and political action to advance the agenda of liberty.
Palmer's exposition of ideas is well-researched, cleverly presented, unpretentious, and well balanced. His prose is amazing, articulate, concise, and humorous. For example, the chapter "Twenty Myths about Markets" is a model of a straightforward and persuasive writing. The book doesn't even read like a collection of essays, as it gives the reader a comprehensive outlook into libertarianism from a 21st century point of view.
Long after you have read Realizing Freedom, you will still find yourself dipping into the book now and again as a refresher. The reflection and advocacy are impressive and this high-quality, hard cover edition does it justice. I have no question that it will be widely influential.
All in all, it's a must read.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 7
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