The Constitution of Liberty
Encyclopedia
The Constitution of Liberty is a book by Austrian economist
and Nobel Prize
recipient Friedrich A. Hayek. The book was first published in 1960 by the University of Chicago Press
and it is an interpretation of civilization as being made possible by the fundamental principles of liberty
, which the author presents as prerequisites for wealth and growth, rather than the other way around.
The Constitution of Liberty has notably been held up at a British Conservative Party
policy meeting and banged on the table by Margaret Thatcher
, who reportedly interrupted a presentation to indicate, in reference to the book, that "This is what we believe".
The Constitution of Liberty was placed 9th on the list of the 100 best non-fiction books of the twentieth century compiled by the biweekly conservative magazine National Review
.
Austrian School
The Austrian School of economics is a heterodox school of economic thought. It advocates methodological individualism in interpreting economic developments , the theory that money is non-neutral, the theory that the capital structure of economies consists of heterogeneous goods that have...
and Nobel Prize
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
recipient Friedrich A. Hayek. The book was first published in 1960 by the University of Chicago Press
University of Chicago Press
The University of Chicago Press is the largest university press in the United States. It is operated by the University of Chicago and publishes a wide variety of academic titles, including The Chicago Manual of Style, dozens of academic journals, including Critical Inquiry, and a wide array of...
and it is an interpretation of civilization as being made possible by the fundamental principles of liberty
Liberty
Liberty is a moral and political principle, or Right, that identifies the condition in which human beings are able to govern themselves, to behave according to their own free will, and take responsibility for their actions...
, which the author presents as prerequisites for wealth and growth, rather than the other way around.
The Constitution of Liberty has notably been held up at a British Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
policy meeting and banged on the table by Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
, who reportedly interrupted a presentation to indicate, in reference to the book, that "This is what we believe".
The Constitution of Liberty was placed 9th on the list of the 100 best non-fiction books of the twentieth century compiled by the biweekly conservative magazine National Review
National Review
National Review is a biweekly magazine founded by the late author William F. Buckley, Jr., in 1955 and based in New York City. It describes itself as "America's most widely read and influential magazine and web site for conservative news, commentary, and opinion."Although the print version of the...
.
Table of Contents
- Part I- The Value of Freedom
- Ch 1- Liberty and Liberties
- Ch 2- The Creative Powers of a Free Civilization
- Ch 3- The Common Sense of Progress
- Ch 4- Freedom, Reason, and Tradition
- Ch 5- Responsibility and Freedom
- Ch 6- Equality, Value, and Merit
- Ch 7- Majority Rule
- Ch 8- Employment and Independence
- Part II- Freedom and the Law
- Ch 9- Coercion and the State
- Ch 10- Law, Commands, and Order
- Ch 11- The Origins of the Rule of Law
- Ch 12- The American Contribution: Constitutionalism
- Ch 13- Liberalism and Administration: The Rechtsstaat
- Ch 14- The Safeguards of Individual Liberty
- Ch 15- Economic Policy and the Rule of Law
- Ch 16- The Decline of the Law
- Part III- Freedom in the Welfare State
- Ch 17 The Decline of Socialism and the Rise of the Welfare State
- Ch 18- Labor Unions and Employment
- Ch 19- Social Security
- Ch 20- Taxation and Redistribution
- Ch 21- The Monetary Framework
- Ch 22- Housing and Town Planning
- Ch 23- Agriculture and Natural Resources
- Ch 24- Education and Research
- Postscript
- Why I am Not a Conservative
Book
- 1960. The Constitution of Liberty, University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0226320847
- 2011. The Constitution of Liberty: The Definitive Edition, Ronald Hamowy, ed., v. 17, The Collected Works of F A. Hayek. University of Chicago Press. Description and preview.