Anti-Libertarianism: Markets, Philosophy and Myth

168 Pages·1994·2.91 MB·English

by  Alan Haworth

Anti-libertarianism
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7 Markets, philosophy and myth
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it Alan Haworth
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London and New York
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Anti-libertarianism
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7 Advocates of the free market claim that it is the only economic mechanism
1 capable of respecting and furthering human freedom. Socialism, they say,
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3 has been thoroughly discredited. Most libertarians treat the state in
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1 anything other than its minimal, ‘nightwatchman’ form as a repressive
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t embodiment of evil. Some reject the state altogether.
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] But is the ‘free market idea’ a rationally defensible belief? Or have its
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es proponents failed to examine the philosophical roots of their so-called
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si freedom? Antdibertu~ reconsiders the theoretical libertarian stance,
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e starting with an analysis of the model of ‘mutually beneficial’ exchanges
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ni which is at the core of libertarian thinking. Alan Haworth’s book is a
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sceptical exploration of the concepts and arguments which form the tenets
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hi of free market politics. He offers the view that libertarianism is little more
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l than an unfounded, quasi-religious statement of faith: a market romance.
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b Moreover, libertarianism is exposed as profoundly antithetical to the very
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a freedom which it purports to advance.
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s This controversial book is for anyone interested in the cultural and
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y political impact of free market policies on the modern world. It will be
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d useful to students and specialists of political and economic theory, social
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d science and philosophy.
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o Alan Haworth is Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of
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n North London.
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7 Fist published 1994
1 by Routledge
9 11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE
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1 Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada
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t by Routledge
a 29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 1000 1
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s Q 1994 Alan Haworth
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si Typeset in Baskerville by the EPPP Group at Routledge
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e Printed and bound in Great Britain by
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ni Mackays of Chatham PLC, Chatham, Kent
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r All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
i reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic,
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e mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter
ul invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any
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n information storage or retrieval system, without permission in
a writing from the publishers.
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y [ British Library Catakguirg in Atblization Data
b A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
d ISBN O-415482536 (lib) ISBN o-415-08254-4 @b)
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a Library of Gngress Calaloging in Adblication Data
o Haworth, Alan, 1944
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w Anti-libertarianism : markets, philosophy and myth / Alan Haworth.
o p. cm.
D Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-41508253-6 (hb). - ISBN &415-X)8254-4 (pb)
1. Libertarianism. I. Title.
HB95.H385 1994 93-37964
330. 12’ 6-dc20 CIP
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b For myf ather; for Rowan;f or Matthew
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Contents
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1 Preface and acknowledgements ix
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1 Part1
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] at 1 Libertarianism - anti-libertarianism 3
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es 2 Market romances I: nuts and bolts 6
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rs 3 Reducibility, freedom, the invisible hand 12
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ni 4 Market romances II: love is strange 32
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r 5 On freedom 38
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e 6 The legend of the angels and the fable of the bees 58
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a Part II
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y [ 7 Moralising the market 67
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d 8 Rights, wrongs and rhetoric 72
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ad 9 Visions of Valhalla 94
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w Part III
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D 10 The good fairy’s wand 107
11 Hayek and the hand of fate 115
12 Conclusions and postscript 130
Notes 134
Bibliography 143
Index 147
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