Liberty

The Principle of Liberty - Self-Ownership and Private Property Rights

For information, see the animated short film, The Philosophy of Liberty.

Individualism and Collectivism

The philosophy of liberty is based upon the Right of individual self-ownership.  It is based on the ethic of individualism.  

A true libertarian society is one in which all individuals are free from coercion, control, obligation or any other type of interference from government or arbitrary groups. 

There are no libertarian societies in existence in the world today.  Throughout the world, the ethic of collectivism - the opposite of individualism - dominates the mindset of most people.  Consequently, we have only statist societies, of varying degrees.

There are four main differences between individualism/libertarianism and collectivism/statism:

1. Individualists believe that Rights are inherent to each individual human being, and these Rights can be granted or denied to governments.  In contrast, collectivists believe that Rights originate with governments, to be granted or denied to individuals.
2. Individualists believe that groups ('collectives') are merely abstract concepts, meaning multiple individuals, in the same way that a forest is merely an abstract concept meaning multiple trees.  As such, individualists believe that no groups have Rights beyond those of the individuals comprising the group.  In contrast, collectivists believe that some groups - most notably governments - have Rights over and above those of the individuals comprising the group.
3. Individualists believe that coercion - the violation of an individuals' Rights - can never be justified.  In contrast, collectivists believe that coercion can be justified, and is in fact necessary, in order to serve the needs of the majority of society - that coercive means are justifiable to achieve certain ends which provide the greater good for the greater number.
4. Individualists believe that all individuals should be treated equally under the law.  In contrast, collectivists believe that individuals should be treated differently according to their usefulness to society.

These four differences result in individualists and collectivists having very different views about the proper role of government: individualists believe that government should be voluntary (anarchists) or strictly limited (minarchists) to the protection of individuals' Life, Liberty and Property, whereas collectivists believe governments should provide for, and take responsibility for, the lives of it's citizens.  Collectivists believe society should be planned and directed by democratic governments; individualists believe that society is best served by individual liberty.

For more information, see the short animation film, Individualism vs Collectivism.



The Free Market

The superiority of the individualist/libertarian type of society over the collectivist/statist type is demonstrated by both theory and history.  The reason for this is that in a libertarian society, the free market works as efficiently as possible, whereas in a statist society the free market is suppressed and cannot function properly.  The free market system is not of human design: it evolved naturally, as societies embracing the free market outpaced and eventually eliminated societies based on any other system.

The free market operates on individual self-interest.  The Austrian School of Economics has consistently shown that individuals operating out of self-interest in a free market system creates more wealth, faster growth and better technology than any system which is centrally planned and directed by governments.

Collectivists are afraid of liberty and free markets.  Custom, as well as mainstream education and media, has led them to believe that without governments planning society, there would be chaos.  Most collectivists do not know they are collectivists, and they do not know what individualism is, let alone that it would create a society with more prosperity, more justice, more equality of wealth, and less violence and war.

When the philosophy of liberty is abandoned, governments inevitably grow in size, power and control; they tend ever-closer to totalitarianism - total government and virtually no individual freedom.  This is happening now, on a worldwide scale.  Only an informed populace, educated in the subject of liberty, can turn the tide and lead us back to a free society.



The Planks of Liberty

The Rule of Law

Civil Liberties

Sound Money and No Central Bank

No Welfare State

Free Market Education System

Free Market Healthcare System

Non-Interventionist Foreign Policy

Free Trade



Minarchy

Government Limited to Protection of Life, Liberty and Property

Low Taxes



Anarchy

No Government, No Taxation

Private protection/defense agencies

Private courts, justice system and law codes

Private roads and land