Classical Liberalism – A Primer

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Eamonn Butler. Classical Liberalism – A Primer

The author

Acknowledgements

Foreword

Summary

Introduction

What is classical liberalism?

Classical liberalism: the family tree

Classical liberalism and freedom

Classical liberal morality

Classical liberal politics

Classical liberal society

Classical liberal economics

Classical liberalism today

Key classical liberal thinkers

Classical liberal quotations

Classical liberalism timeline

Further reading

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To my friend John Blundell (1952–2014)

Eamonn is author of books on the pioneering economists Milton Friedman, F. A. Hayek and Ludwig von Mises, a primer on the Austrian School of Economics and The Condensed Wealth of Nations. For the IEA, he has written primers on Adam Smith, Ludwig von Mises and public choice theory; his Foundations of a Free Society won the Fisher Prize in 2014. He is co-author of a history of wage and price controls, and of a series of books on IQ. His recent popular publications, The Best Book on the Market, The Rotten State of Britain and The Alternative Manifesto, attracted considerable attention, and he is a frequent contributor to print and broadcast media.

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To maintain the rule of law requires a system of justice, with independent courts that cannot be manipulated by individuals or governments. There need to be basic judicial principles such as habeas corpus, trial by jury and due process to prevent those in power using the law in their own interests.

The rule of law has another happy consequence – it makes life far more predictable, because it enables us to anticipate how people (including officials) will – and will not – behave. So we can make long-term plans without fear of having them shattered by the caprice of others.

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