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 THE PHILOSPHERS: UNPUBLISHED WRITINGS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 />
84 ON HAYEK, MISES, STRAUSS, AND POLYANI<br />
<strong>the</strong> first “Liberty Library.” Here are found <strong>the</strong> various<br />
important “circles” of friends that helped to foster and carry<br />
on <strong>the</strong> liberal gospel in an era of ignorant stand-pattery.<br />
In <strong>the</strong> early eighteenth century, <strong>the</strong> leader of <strong>the</strong> liberal<br />
group was one Robert Molesworth, resurrected from almost<br />
complete obscurity. 27 Molesworth’s own ideas weren’t particularly<br />
good, but he performed <strong>the</strong> important function of heading<br />
and nourishing a circle of friends and acquaintances who<br />
carried on <strong>the</strong> great tradition, albeit watered down a bit, of<br />
Locke and Sidney. O<strong>the</strong>r interesting figures are James Foster,<br />
<strong>the</strong> Scot Dr. John Campbell, James Burgh, John Jackson,<br />
and John Lee. 28 Ano<strong>the</strong>r grand “leader of <strong>the</strong> circle was <strong>the</strong><br />
In 1960, Pierre Goodrich founded <strong>the</strong> Liberty Fund, a private<br />
organization for <strong>the</strong> dissemination of classical-liberal ideas.<br />
27Robert Molesworth (1656–1725) supported William of<br />
Orange on <strong>the</strong> occasion of <strong>the</strong> Glorious Revolution and, in 1695,<br />
became a member of <strong>the</strong> Irish Privy Council. He was made a viscount<br />
in 1716. He wrote An Account of Denmark as It Was in <strong>the</strong> Year<br />
1692 (1693).<br />
28James Foster (1697–1748), a keen collaborator on <strong>the</strong> liberal<br />
paper The Old Whig, was a Dissenting chaplain in <strong>the</strong> house of<br />
Robert Houlton. In 1724 he moved to London where he became a<br />
famous nonconformist preacher of liberal ideas. His thought was<br />
characterized by an emphasis on <strong>the</strong> dignity and freedom of <strong>the</strong> individual,<br />
and on freedom of thought. His speeches were published in<br />
Discourses (1749–1752) and in Sermons (1736).<br />
John Campbell (1653–1728) was a Scot who immigrated to<br />
Boston, where he published <strong>the</strong> Boston Newsletter, helping to disseminate<br />
English liberal ideas in <strong>the</strong> colonies.<br />
Between 1774 and 1775, James Burgh (1714–1775) published<br />
Political Disquisitions, one of <strong>the</strong> political tracts that significantly<br />
influenced radical thought in <strong>the</strong> 1780s. See Burgh, Political Disquisitions;<br />
or, An Enquiry into Public Errors, Defects, and Abuses,<br />
3 vols. (London: E. and C. Dilly, 1774–75). Looking at <strong>the</strong> first part<br />
of <strong>the</strong> eighteenth century, Burgh regretted <strong>the</strong> degeneration of <strong>the</strong><br />
country and with <strong>the</strong> “spirit of a true independent whig,” he hoped<br />
for <strong>the</strong> restoration of <strong>the</strong> constitution to control <strong>the</strong> authoritarian<br />
tendencies of <strong>the</strong> government (General Preface, p. xvi). He wrote,<br />
All lawful authority, legislative, and executive, originates<br />
from <strong>the</strong> people. Power in <strong>the</strong> people is like