Overview

Advocates of the free market claim that it is the only economic mechanism capable of respecting and furthering human freedom. Socialism, they say, has been thoroughly discredited: the more extreme wing of libertarian thinking would even say that anything other than the minimal 'nightwatchman' state is repressive and, in terms of ultimate freedom, evil. But is the 'free market idea' a rationally defensible belief? Or do its proponents fail to examine the philosophical roots of their so-called freedom? Antilibertarianism: A Market Romance reconsiders the theoretical libertarian stance, starting with an analysis of the model of 'mutually beneficial' exchanges which is at the core of libertarian thinking. Alan Haworth's book is a sceptical exploration of the concepts and arguments which form the tenets of free market politics - he offers the view that libertarianism is little more than an unfounded, quasi-religious statement of faith: a market romance. Moreover, libertarianism is exposed as profoundly antithetical to the very freedom which it purports to advance. This controversial book is for anyone interested in the cultural and political impact of free market policies in the modern world. It will be useful to students and specialists of political and economic theory, social science and philosophy. Alan Haworth is Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of North London.

Full Product Details

Author:   Alan Haworth (London Metropolitan University, UK)
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint:   Routledge
Dimensions:   Width: 13.80cm , Height: 1.00cm , Length: 21.60cm
Weight:   0.453kg
ISBN:  

9780415082549

ISBN 10:   0415082544
Pages:   168
Publication Date:   23 June 1994
Audience:   College/higher education ,  General/trade ,  Tertiary & Higher Education ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

Part 1 Part I; Chapter 1 Libertarianism - Anti-Libertarianism; Chapter 2 Market Romances I; Chapter 3 Reducibility, Freedom, the Invisible Hand; Chapter 4 Market Romances II; Chapter 5 On Freedom; Chapter 6 The Legend of the Angels and the Fable of the Bees; Part 2 Part II; Chapter 7 Moralising the Market; Chapter 8 Rights, Wrongs and Rhetoric; Chapter 9 Visions of Valhalla; Part 3 Part III; Chapter 10 The Good Fairy’s Wand; Chapter 11 Hayek and the Hand of Fate; Chapter 12 Conclusions and Postscript;

Reviews

"""A lively and engaging imminent critique of ""economic libertarianism . . . if there were any lingering plausibility in the view that a free market rooted in individual property rights maximizes individual liberty, Haworth puts a final nail in the libertarian coffin."" -Alan Wertheimer, University of Vermont"

A lively and engaging imminent critique of economic libertarianism . . . if there were any lingering plausibility in the view that a free market rooted in individual property rights maximizes individual liberty, Haworth puts a final nail in the libertarian coffin. -Alan Wertheimer, University of Vermont

A lively and engaging imminent critique of economic libertarianism . . . if there were any lingering plausibility in the view that a free market rooted in individual property rights maximizes individual liberty, Haworth puts a final nail in the libertarian coffin. <br>-Alan Wertheimer, University of Vermont <br>

Author Information

Alan Haworth is Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of North London.

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