Eric Mack joins our show again to talk about common objections to libertarianism by dissecting John Rawls view of libertarianism. Many people have reservations about libertarianism because they see it as lacking compassion, but in the long-run people who are on the lowest rung of society do better in a free market system. Some others argue that there isn’t enough substance to libertarianism to live your life in that way, but Eric Mack consistently challenges that point of view throughout the episode. 

What are the objections to libertarianism? Why was John Rawls not a libertarian? What is the “difference principle”? Does free market economics raise the standard of living? How would libertarians help the ‘worst-off’? Are libertarians lacking compassion? What is a just society?

Further Reading:

Libertarianism (Key Concepts in Political Theory), written by Eric Mack

Anarchy, State, and Utopia, by Robert Nozick

Related Content:

Arguments for Liberty, edited by Aaron Ross Powell and Grant Babcock

A Rawlsian Case for Libertarianism, written by Kevin Vallier

Arguments for Liberty: Rawlsianism, Free Thoughts Podcast

The Intellectual Tradition of Libertarianism (with Eric Mack), Free Thoughts Podcast

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