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The libertarian movement has always been more or less dominated by pragmatism. Over fifty years of pragmatism has achieved very little…and that’s just as true today.

So exactly how is a half century of meager results...pragmatic?

This, and other inconsistencies in libertarian thinking is covered in painful detail, in this, part 1 of my 2-part interview with Larken Rose.

As always, Larken pulls no punches.

But if you think you’ve heard some of these arguments before, think again. This take-down of strategic pragmatism isn’t just a set of logical arguments. Pragmatists: watch at your own peril. You may just come away feeling outright embarrassed.

Some links to Larken’s work:

His major book “The Most Dangerous Superstition”

Larken’s website The Rose Channel

Larken was screenwriter of the feature film Jones Plantation (2023)

His YouTube channel

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My full, free 23-part Myth of Authority Masterclass

Since some may be new to libertarian perspectives, here is a short list of links you may find helpful. I’ve classified them based on the different ways people ponder issues:

Want to know how important things would get done without government?

* Reading material: “The Machinery of Freedom” by David Friedman; for private law specifically (rather than government law) try “Legal Foundations of a Free Society” by Stephan Kinsella

* Video: “The Case for Privatization, of Everything”, “Law without Government: Principles”, “Law without Government: Conflict Resolution”, “Law without Government: The Bargaining Mechanism”

Want a comprehensive overview?

* Reading material: “The Voluntaryist Handbook” by Keith Knight

* Video: “Anarchy 101”, “The Philosophy of Liberty”

Want to get down to the root of it, without sugar coating?

* Reading material: “Anatomy of the State” by Murray Rothbard, “The Most Dangerous Superstition” by Larken Rose

* Video: “The Fundamentals”, “The Whole Problem”, “The State is Too Dangerous to Tolerate”, “The Tiny Dot”

Want to focus on economics?

* Reading material: “I, Pencil” by Leonard E. Read, “Economics in One Lesson” by Henry Hazlitt

* Video: “The Attractiveness of Austrian Economics”

Want to focus on the absurdity of politics?

* Reading material: “The Problem of Political Authority” by Michael Huemer

* Video: “Election Day”, “I’m Allowed to Rob You”, “If You Were King”, “The Jones Plantation”

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