The Mainspring of Human Progress
Encyclopedia
The Mainspring of Human Progress by Henry Grady Weaver
is a libertarian
history book published in 1947 by Talbot Books. In 1953, the Foundation for Economic Education
printed a revised edition and has done all subsequent printings. The book borrows heavily from the 1943 Rose Wilder Lane
book The Discovery of Freedom.
, but Lane was dissatisfied with it and would not give permission to reprint it. Only one thousand copies were printed in her lifetime. The continuing interest in her book prompted Weaver to write his book.
In The Modern Library's readers poll of the 100 best nonfiction books (conducted 4/29/1999 through 9/30/1999), The Mainspring of Human Progress was ranked #48 and The Discovery of Freedom was #67.
, saw libertarianism as being derived from Christian faith instead of in opposition to it, which was the view of objectivists such as Ayn Rand
and Nathaniel Branden
(Ayn Rand was opposed to the Libertarian Movement). Quotations from his book illustrating this view:
Although Weaver's own denomination was Southern Baptist, the book (in common with The Discovery of Freedom) is very positive towards Islam
. He sees Muhammad
's teaching consistent with libertarian ideals and his sympathy is on the side of the Moslems during the Crusades
.
Henry Grady Weaver
Henry Grady Weaver was the director of Customer Research Staff for General Motors Corporation, and shown on the cover of the November 14, 1938 issue of Time Magazine.-Early life and education:...
is a libertarian
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
history book published in 1947 by Talbot Books. In 1953, the Foundation for Economic Education
Foundation for Economic Education
The Foundation for Economic Education is one of the oldest free-market organizations established in the United States to study and advance the freedom philosophy. Murray Rothbard recognizes FEE for creating a "crucial open center" that he credits with launching the movement...
printed a revised edition and has done all subsequent printings. The book borrows heavily from the 1943 Rose Wilder Lane
Rose Wilder Lane
Rose Wilder Lane was an American journalist, travel writer, novelist, and political theorist...
book The Discovery of Freedom.
Relation to The Discovery of Freedom
Rose Wilder Lane's book The Discovery of Freedom: Man's Struggle Against Authority was printed in 1943. It received good reviews, notably from Albert Jay NockAlbert Jay Nock
Albert Jay Nock was an influential United States libertarian author, educational theorist, and social critic of the early and middle 20th century.- Life and work :...
, but Lane was dissatisfied with it and would not give permission to reprint it. Only one thousand copies were printed in her lifetime. The continuing interest in her book prompted Weaver to write his book.
In The Modern Library's readers poll of the 100 best nonfiction books (conducted 4/29/1999 through 9/30/1999), The Mainspring of Human Progress was ranked #48 and The Discovery of Freedom was #67.
On libertarianism and religion
Weaver, like Lane and Isabel PatersonIsabel Paterson
Isabel Paterson was a Canadian-American journalist, novelist, political philosopher, and a leading literary critic of her day. Along with Rose Wilder Lane and Ayn Rand, who both acknowledged an intellectual debt to Paterson, she is one of the three founding mothers of American libertarianism...
, saw libertarianism as being derived from Christian faith instead of in opposition to it, which was the view of objectivists such as Ayn Rand
Ayn Rand
Ayn Rand was a Russian-American novelist, philosopher, playwright, and screenwriter. She is known for her two best-selling novels The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged and for developing a philosophical system she called Objectivism....
and Nathaniel Branden
Nathaniel Branden
Nathaniel Branden, né Nathan Blumenthal , is a psychotherapist and writer best known today for his work in the psychology of self-esteem from a humanistic perspective...
(Ayn Rand was opposed to the Libertarian Movement). Quotations from his book illustrating this view:
"Pagan worship is based on the idea that human destiny is controlled by the overall will-of-the tribe, rather than by the initiative and free will of the individual persons who make up the tribe....it is in this concept that we find the origin of human sacrifice to the pagan gods" (page 31)
"[Christ] spoke of the God of Abraham, the God of Truth, the God of Rightness -- the God who does not control any man, but who judges the acts of every man" (page 79)
"All of these advantages are the natural, normal outgrowth of a political structure which unleashed the creative energies of millions of men and women by leaving them free to work out their own affairs -- not under the lash of coercive authority, but through voluntary cooperation based on enlightened self-interestEnlightened self-interestEnlightened self-interest is a philosophy in ethics which states that persons who act to further the interests of others , ultimately serve their own self-interest....
and moral responsibility" (page 251)
"There has never been but one revolution. It is the revolution against pagan fatalism -- the revolution for human freedom" (page 68)
Although Weaver's own denomination was Southern Baptist, the book (in common with The Discovery of Freedom) is very positive towards Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
. He sees Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
's teaching consistent with libertarian ideals and his sympathy is on the side of the Moslems during the Crusades
Crusades
The Crusades were a series of religious wars, blessed by the Pope and the Catholic Church with the main goal of restoring Christian access to the holy places in and near Jerusalem...
.