Reviews for A moral basis for liberty

The average rating for A moral basis for liberty based on 2 reviews is 4.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2017-09-18 00:00:00 Jocy Berklund The argument for liberty is one rooted in a moral basis of human dignity and the natural law. In this succinct book, father Sirico reviews the moral basis behind the natural law doctrine, and presents an overview of the morals behind the ideals for economic liberty that are present from the Scholastic philosophers to the great minds of the economic thinking in the 20th century such as Milton Friedman and F. A. Hayek. It is easy-to-follow, as it elucidates some misconceptions about economics and prepares the reader for future readings on the topics it covers. "A moral argument for economic liberty should not shrink from its own logical implications, however politically unfashionable. An imperative against theft and in favor of the security of private property must also suggest caution about taxes above the minimal necessary for the rule of law. Freedom of contract must include the freedom not to contract. Freedom of association must include the freedom not to associate. Toleration of individual differences must include tolerances for the inequality in wealth that will be the unavoidable result. A morality that favors virtue in the context of liberty must allow room for personal moral failure and an understanding of the difference between vice and crime. "It is sometimes said that no one dreams of capitalism. This, too, must change. Rightly understood, capitalism is simply the name for the economic component of the natural order of liberty. It means expansive ownership of property, fair and equal rules for all, economic security through prosperity, strict adherence to the boundaries of ownership, opportunity for charity, wise resource use, creativity, growth, development, prosperity, and abundance. Most of all it means the economic application of the principle that every human person has dignity and should have that dignity respected, it is a dream worthy of our spiritual imaginations." (Sirico, Robert)

Review # 2 was written on 2020-05-13 00:00:00 David W. Dangremond Concise overview of the moral argument for personal and (especially) economic liberty. The introduction by Edmund Opitz is nearly as long as Fr. Sirico's essay and is a good companion piece.