Murray N. Rothbard vs. the Philosophers - Ludwig von Mises Institute
Murray N. Rothbard vs. the Philosophers - Ludwig von Mises Institute
Murray N. Rothbard vs. the Philosophers - Ludwig von Mises Institute
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MURRAY N. ROTHBARD VS. THE PHILOSPHERS: UNPUBLISHED WRITINGS<br />
60 ON HAYEK, MISES, STRAUSS, AND POLYANI<br />
It follows that any widespread distribution of this speech<br />
by <strong>the</strong> foundation would be disastrous to <strong>the</strong> individualist<br />
cause that we all hold so dear. Any converts that may have<br />
been made by <strong>the</strong> uniformly excellent literature that you<br />
have distributed until now might very well be lost if people<br />
mistakenly believe that all individualism—or that <strong>the</strong> foundation’s<br />
individualism—is necessarily rugged.<br />
Granted that <strong>the</strong>re are many statements that have merit<br />
in Dr. Cutten’s speech; <strong>the</strong>y are more than outweighed by<br />
<strong>the</strong> central <strong>the</strong>sis. I think that <strong>the</strong> foundation would do itself<br />
a very good turn by (1) not distributing this on a widespread<br />
basis, and (2) publishing a critique of “Rugged Individualism”<br />
that will completely expose it as really perniciously<br />
anti-individualist in spirit and completely fallacious in doctrine.<br />
I’d very much like to know what you, Dr. Harper, think of<br />
this problem: should individualism be humane or rugged?<br />
Thank you for sending me <strong>the</strong> speech.<br />
Cordially,<br />
<strong>Murray</strong><br />
P.S. I just received Leo Wolman’s pamphlet on industrywide<br />
bargaining in <strong>the</strong> mail. It looks like a fine job. The de<br />
Jouvenel pamphlet was also very good, providing an excellent<br />
complement to <strong>the</strong> Stigler and Watts work on rent control.