The Writings of F. A. Harper: Volume I: The Major Works

443 Pages·1978·20.944 MB·English

by  Floyd A. Harper

The Writings
of F. A. Harper
F. A. HARPER
The Writings
of F. A.Harper
Volume 1:
The Major Works
1961
INSTITUTE FOR HUMANE STUDIES, INC.
Menlo Park, California
The Writings ofF. A. Harper
Copyright © 1978 by the Institute for Humane
Studies,Inc.Allrightsreserved,includingtherightto
reproduce this bookorportions thereofinany form,
exceptfortheinclusionofbriefquotationsinareview.
All inquiries shouldbe addressed to the Institute for
Humane Studies, Inc., 1177 University Drive, Menlo
Park, California94025. Thisbookwas manufactured
in the United States ofAmerica.
Library ofCongress Cataloging in Publication Data
Harper, Floyd Arthur, 1905-1973.
The writings ofF. A. Harper
Includes bibliographical references.
CONTENTS: v. 1. The major works: The crisis ofthe free
market. High prices. Liberty. Why wages rise.
- v. 2. Shorter essays
1. Economics-Collected works. 2. Laissez-faire-Collected
works. 3. Liberty-Collected works. 4. Inflation (Finance)-
Collected works.
I. Title.
HB171.H276 1978 330.15'3 78-8590
ISBN 0-89617-000-4 (Set)
ISBN 0-89617-001-2 (Volume 1)
ISBN 0-89617-002-0 (Volume 2)
CONTENTS
Tribute by Charles G. Koch 1
Reminiscence by Marguerite K. Harper 5
Introduction by Paul L. Poirot 13
1. The Crisis ofthe Free Market 19
II. High Prices 131
III. Liberty: A Path to Its Reeovery 205
IV. Why Wages Rise 337
About the Author 436
About the Institute 437
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TRIBUTE
"Goodness in man can only grow in a climate of liberty."
That was the message of Floyd Arthur Harper, or "Baldy" as
we knew him. Baldy was one of the wisest men I have ever
known. It was a combination of goodness and wisdom that
gave him excellence in his principal role-that ofour teacher.
He taught us about liberty, which was, in his words, "the ab
sence of coercion of a human being by any other human be
ing." No one personally better fit this description than Baldy
Harper. He sought liberty because of his dedication to peace.
"Peace," he told us, "will exist only as liberty is increased in
all its forms among individuals throughout the world."
Of all the teachers of liberty, none was as well-beloved as
Baldy, for it was he who taught the teachers and, in teaching,
taught them humility and gentleness. Of teaching others he
said, "It must never be forgotten that one's beliefs are his
most sacred property, even when in error as others may
judge them. They should be treated with full respect. Change
of opinion on any vital belief of a person is an extremely dif
ficult and painful process. It should be treated as such, with
all the sympathy at one's command." Both from Baldy's
words and from his example, we learned that "teaching, to be
effective, must be in fact as well as in spirit a friendly,
cooperative endeavor an9 not a battle between antagonists.
This requires much time, patience, and sincere sympathy for
honest differences ofopinion."
As well as being a teacher, Baldy was a scholar throughout
his entire life. His thirst for knowledge led him to the under
standing that he shared with us in his several dozen books
and booklets printed in many languages. All of his writing
was concerned directly or indirectly with human liberty. But
his greatest impact was in face to face discussions. Never let
ting a discourse become a debate or argument, he raised
probing questions, and we were able to share a portion of his
wisdom.
1
Of all his writings, those in·moral philosophy were possibly
the most profound. Baldy believed that "there is a force in
the universe which no mortal can alter which rules over the
affairs of human conduct, call this force God or call it
Natural Law," and that "the Golden Rule and the Decalogue
provide the basic moral codes for man's conduct."
Although Baldy thought a great deal about death, it did
not frighten him. Baldy's perspective on death can be under
stood by quoting passages that were meaningful to him: "The
great charm of life comes, perhaps, from the certainty of
death." And
Death should never appear as an enemy but rather as a comfort
er; in fact, the stimulation of living stems somewhat from this cer
tainty of an end, for if mortal things were to last forever, they
would seem unworthy of attachment. Thus, my own attitude to
wards the supposed end of what we call life has been rather one of
curiosity together with a feeling of assurance that, with this end,
certain mental confusions of this world will be clarified and false
evaluations shown up. I certainly do not consider death a finality,
but rather an emergence from human or mortal adolescence. Noth-
ing positively dies. It is we who go away and lose sight ofit.
The body does not have a soul, it is the soul which has, or oc
cupies the body and forsakes it the moment death occurs. Explain
ing this is difficult and it may be simpler to think of the soul as the
spirit or·even as the mind. The range of action of a freed soul or
spirit can thus be compared to one's imagination.
Baldy loved deeply-his family, his friends, and his as
sociates. This love must have been the source of his strength
and energy, for he never complained about the load or hesi
tated to shoulder another task that might result in an ad
vance of the concepts of liberty. Recently, when asked about
his hobbies, Baldy replied they were few because "I find
libertarian work such a pleasure that it amounts to almost
constant recreation."
2
Baldy's family-his wife Marguerite (Peg), daughters Bar
bara, Harriet, and Helen, and son Larry-reinforced and
shared his qualities. Peg not only understood his work but
taught alongside him.
From his birth in Michigan in 1905 through his under
graduate work at Michigan State University and his doctorate
at Cornell, Baldy moved toward his natural calling. He
taught at Cornell for many years, starting as an instructor
and becoming a full professor of marketing. In 1946, he de
cided to concentrate full time on ideas concerning liberty, so
he joined the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE).
After leaving FEE in 1958, he joined the William Volker
Fund. In the early 1960s, he lectured at Wabash College.
In 1963, Baldy became Executive Director of the Institute·
for Humane Studies, which fulfilled the dream he had long
held to establish a center for basic research and advanced
study in the humane scholarly disciplines, functioning
through a worldwide community of scholars. He chose the
word "humane" because it characterizes man in his compas
sion, sympathy, and consideration for others. The work ofthe
Institutefocusesonthecrisisofourtime-"man'sinhumaneness
to man."
In developing the Institute, Baldy was, as always, the op-
timist. He said, "Truth has a way of cutting through the dom-
inant mass ofignorance and illusion like a lightin the darkness,
and in times like the present, we should remember that truth
shines clearestand penetrates farthest when times are darkest."
Those of us who follow Baldy at the Institute have a grave
responsibility to see that it becomes a living embodiment ofhis
ideals.
We will sorely miss Baldy, not only for his prodigious and
irreplaceable work, but because of his unique personal qual
ities, a profound wisdom and knowledge coupled with deep
humility and warmth. Baldy's spirit will live on. It will live in
those who knew and loved him and in the great lessons he
taught.
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The world is a better place for his having lived, and, if
those he left behind show just a portion of his qualities, the
world will indeed become a better place in which to live.
Charles G. Koch, Chairman
Institute for Humane Studies
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
Menlo Park, California
April 27, 1973
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