Thought some of you might be interested. The book is on my wish list...
Dan
On-line Seminar -- the Hayek-L Email List
Jan Lester on _Escape from Leviathan: Liberty, Welfare and Anarchy
Reconciled_
Oct. 21 - Nov. 1, 2001
hosted by http://www.hayekcenter.org
Jan Lester will be hosting a seminar on
his recent book _Escape from Leviathan:
Liberty, Welfare and Anarchy Reconciled_
between Sunday, Oct. 21 & Thursday, Nov. 1
on the Hayek-L email list:
http://www.hayekcenter.org/hayek-l/hayek-l.html
_Escape from Leviathan: Liberty, Welfare and Anarchy Reconciled_ 246 pages
(Hardcover) Palgrave; ISBN: 0312234163
Book Description:
The principal criticism of libertarianism is that it would
damage human welfare. In response, this book considers an
extreme libertarian thesis: there is no conceptual or practical
clash among the most plausible accounts of economic rationality,
interpersonal liberty, human welfare, and private-property
anarchy. Eschewing moral advocacy as a distraction, it offers
a critical-rationalist defense of this objective thesis from
many criticisms in the literature.
Reviews:
'Lester's book develops a sustained and at times fresh and surprising
argument for its compatibilist conclusions. It constitutes a formidable
intellectual challenge to the social democratic establishment in Political
theory.' Professor Antony Flew
'Lester argues that utility is compatible with liberty, understood in its
classically 'negative' sense. In the process, he has written a remarkable
book, informed by a masterly knowledge of economics and filled with careful
analytical detail. He deals with a vast range of criticisms, and in the
process undoes a great deal of theoretical mischief on the relations between
these important concepts, including much by philosophers of major
reputation. His accounts of instrumental rationality, of property rights, of
public goods problems, and of restitution for criminal cases, are important
contributions and will be discussed with interest for long. Few among us
will fail to benefit from reading it.' - Professor Jan Narveson
J.C. Lester has written an outstanding book...he tackles the subject with
the consummate skill of an expert in the field...his critique of democracy
was a heady, almost intoxicating, refutation...Lester shows considerable
originality...He is able to use the concepts and intellectual weaponry of
libertarianism as effectively as the giants of the subject - Rothbard, David
Friedman and the early Nozick included...rarely has capitalism been
justified with such philosophical expertise...In a short review article it
is impossible to do justice to Lester's remarkable book. He manages to say
new and exciting things about criminal justice...new ways of internalizing
externalities, and property rights solutions to the 'tragedy of the
commons'...Lester's arguments are presented with sophistication and are
informed by an impressive mastery of the secondary literature.' - Norman
Barry, Professor of Social and Political Theory, University of Buckingham
'This is a notably ambitious reconstruction of radical libertarian thinking
from the ground up. Even those, like myself, who are unpersuaded by its
reformulation of classical liberalism will benefit from reading Lester's
book.' - Professor John Gray, Professor of European Thought, London School
of Economics and Political Science, University of London
'Lester's book develops a sustained and at times fresh and surprising
argument for its compatibilist conclusions. It constitutes a formidable
intellectual challenge to the social democratic establishment in Political
theory.' - Professor Antony Flew, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy,
University of Reading
Lester's book is available from Laissez Faire Books at:
http://laissezfairebooks.com/product.cfm?op=view&pid=PP8279&aid+10097
and from Amazon at
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0312234163/thefriedrhayeksc
J. C. Lester developed libertarian views while reading philosophy
at Warwick University. He subsequently studied social and political
philosophy at the London School of Economics and Political Science,
culminating in a doctorate. His work has been published in various
scholarly periodicals and books. He has taught at several university
institutions, including the London School of Economics.
Those who wish to participate in the seminar may subscribe to
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the message:
subscribe Hayek-L <yourfirstname> <yourlastname>
to: LISTSERV@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
Greg Ransom
Hayek-L list host
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