Rothbard as Intellectual Inspiration
Doug French discusses what it was like to be a student of Murray Rothbard. The first night of class, Murray came through the door already talking, like he had started his lecture out in the hallway. He didn't take roll, or hand out a syllabus. Murray didn't have time for that; he had centuries of history to cover. FULL ARTICLE
Comments (10)
How interesting that you mentioned Carrier. It is because of this company that I am an Austrian economist: Carrier Corp, in order to have the most educated workforce on the planet, covers all of the tuition & book fees for their employees and gives a stock award when they complete their degree. And, it is because of this that I have two wonderful professors who introduced me to the names Mises, Hayek, and Rothbard.
Published: August 15, 2006 8:20 AM
Doug French notes, "But [John] Mackey thinks: 'The Left has the young audience captured, because Leftists are idealists who want to change the world.'"
Let's redefine the sides here. It's not 'left' and 'right,' but 'controllers' vs 'freedom-lovers.' These "idealists" want to impose their ideas on everyone else, presumably because these "idealists" think the rest of us are incapable of "proper" self-determination.
I am not so much concerned with the direction my rulers plan to take me, as I am with the core idea: that these rulers somehow have the ability or authority to take me anywhere.
Additionally, why would 'leftists' (in the definition previously implied by Mr. French) want to change the world? It's heading straight their way, already. Is it possible that individualism's vestiges are not being rubbed out fast enough? Have a little patience, people...
Published: August 15, 2006 10:00 AM
I have known of the Mises Institute, Rothbard and Austrian economics for a fairly short period of time. While I have been libertarian and a free market thinker for most of my life, I must say that I really suffered from flawed and incomplete knowledge of economics. Until I read several of Rothbard's, and other Austrian writers, works. I have gained wonderful new insights and knowledge. It has completely changed my way of thinking about the monetary system in particular.
I have yet to read "Man, Economy and State", but that will definately be making my list in the near future. I envy those who had the opportunity to meet and study under Rothbard in person. It must have been a unique experience.
Published: August 15, 2006 10:25 AM
Tim: if I may make a remark to the Leftist issue (having been one myself not too long ago). To me the reason for being left-wing was the impression that the world is wrong (i.e. power in the wrong hands etc.) and the simplistic world-view many young people have, that what we need is a complete top-down change. Yes, that involves the idea that your idea is great, and that everybody else should follow that idea (and if they don't "get it", they're stupid or evil).
Of course I simply didn't understand many things, including economy. With age (even though I'm still way sub-30) comes wisdom and respect for others (even if you don't agree with their choices), and the understanding that force and coercion should be abolished, while people can still make their own choices.
This concept is called freedom. It seems like it's way harder to understand than the change-the-world idea, maybe because it's not as easy (it doesn't change all people in their ways, so the world isn't a great utopia by tomorrow morning).
And while the world in general (the exception maybe being South America) isn't heading left, statism is getting stronger and more evil. Too bad many people don't get the clue and think going left is the answer (and only alternative to rightism).
Published: August 15, 2006 10:40 AM
But Mackey thinks: "The Left has the young audience captured, because Leftists are idealists who want to change the world."
The left has captured the young because it tells them sweet lies. It tells them that economic shortcuts exist and that there is no need to work hard, no need to study a "hard" discipline or serve a "hard" apprenticeship, no need to save, to invest, or to take care of one's self or one's family. All you have to do is take easy courses at college, hang out with your friends, and go on the occasional roadie to protest against "Bushitler" and toss bricks through store windows - all in the name of "changing the world".
Published: August 15, 2006 10:47 AM
I think the attraction that the left hold for young people is simple and emotional. When young people first discover the disparities in wealth in the world, they're shocked first, and then become angry. The left gives them a simple answer to the problem: The rich stole poor people's money and we must give it back to them using the power of government.
The call for freedom does not appeal to young people. They've never lacked freedom and take it for granted. But disparities in wealth offend their sense of justice and fairness (which all young people seemed obsessed with) and ignite their concern for the poor.
If libertarians want to reach young people, they need to package their ideas as ways to reduce poverty and convince young people that they are really concerned about the state of poor people.
Published: August 15, 2006 11:36 AM
Is there any possibility that the Mises Institute will make this color photograph of Rothbard available for purchase? It is not included in the Institute's (outstanding) photo package of Austrian School economists.
Published: August 15, 2006 1:13 PM
“The call for freedom does not appeal to young people. They've never lacked freedom and take it for granted. But disparities in wealth offend their sense of justice and fairness (which all young people seemed obsessed with) and ignite their concern for the poor.�
I think that youth would be obsessed with both liberty and true justice if they were only given a proper childhood education in what constitutes these things. They have been misled by their left leaning teachers that the egalitarianism implemented by democratic socialism via the aggressive state is the solution to conservative socialism, also implemented by the aggressive state, which serves the interests of established wealthy classes at the expense of the consumer in general, and also the productive but oppressed less established and poor.
I frankly believe that by the time a child is 13 he or she should be well enough educated in economics and ethics to be able to process and comprehend the information contained in Hoppe’s “A Theory of Capitalism and Socialism� which explains the goals of the various forms of socialism, how these goals are implemented, and how they all serve to reduce and destroy capital and general living standards. If this education were in place, you’d have thousands of vocal radical young people in communities across the nation clamoring to demolish the state and with sound justification.
Published: August 15, 2006 1:55 PM
"I think the attraction that the left hold for young people is simple and emotional. When young people first discover the disparities in wealth in the world, they're shocked first, and then become angry. The left gives them a simple answer to the problem: The rich stole poor people's money and we must give it back to them using the power of government.
The call for freedom does not appeal to young people. They've never lacked freedom and take it for granted. But disparities in wealth offend their sense of justice and fairness (which all young people seemed obsessed with) and ignite their concern for the poor.
If libertarians want to reach young people, they need to package their ideas as ways to reduce poverty and convince young people that they are really concerned about the state of poor people."
I can think of no greater book for this than Dr. Mary J. Ruwart's "Healing Our World in an Age of Aggression". One of the best libertarian books, I'm surprised that the Mises store doesn't carry it.
"I frankly believe that by the time a child is 13 he or she should be well enough educated in economics and ethics to be able to process and comprehend the information contained in Hoppe’s “A Theory of Capitalism and Socialism� which explains the goals of the various forms of socialism, how these goals are implemented, and how they all serve to reduce and destroy capital and general living standards."
When is this book coming back into print. Much like "For a New Liberty" I've heard tremendous praise for this book, yet unlike "For a New Liberty" this book is long out of print and hasn't been resurrected yet. I think this would be a great book to bring back.
Published: August 15, 2006 2:40 PM
Jeremy,
"I think this would be a great book to bring back."
I agree. But in the meantime, it's here online:
http://www.mises.org/etexts/Soc&Cap.pdf
I printed it out and i'm reading it to the kids right now. It's great food for thought.
Published: August 15, 2006 3:47 PM