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  • Liberalism

  • In the Classical Tradition
  • Written by: Ludwig von Mises
  • Narrated by: Wanda McCaddon
  • Length: 6 hrs and 47 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (16 ratings)

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Liberalism

Written by: Ludwig von Mises
Narrated by: Wanda McCaddon
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Publisher's Summary

In 1927, classical liberalism, based on a belief in individualism, reason, capitalism, and free trade, was dying, when one of the 20th century's greatest social thinkers wrote this combative and convincing restatement. Nowhere are the key principles of Mises' philosophy better represented than in this timeless work.

Mises was a careful and logical theoretician who believed that ideas rule the world, and this especially comes to light in Liberalism.

"The ultimate outcome of the struggle" between liberalism and totalitarianism, say Mises, "will not be decided by arms, but by ideas. It is ideas that group men into fighting factions, that press the weapons into their hands, and that determine against whom and for whom the weapons shall be used. It is they alone, and not arms, that, in the last analysis, turn the scales."

Public Domain (P)2000 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

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The best, simply the best

An amazing explanation of the true liberalism in it’s most didactic understanding of what is and what is not.

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I’ve bought this book for dozens of my colleagues

One of the most cogent articulations of an expansive and eclectic ideology. Every time I re-read this masterpiece I take away something new. Perhaps my current favourite take away is the distinction between the humanist and liberal argument against war. While the high minded humanist may oppose war because of death and suffering, Mises shows that the liberal argument against war is much more effectively used against the militarist doctrine that war is the father of all things. While the then-German and now-Russian Cossack train of thought will tell you that the sacrifices and suffering endured by war are worth it- the ends justifies the means; Mises informs the reader that this is confused. Since the formal articulation of the division of labour, it must be known that war is not in the more powerful nations own self interest. Instead, peace is the father of all new ideas and allows for extremely complex development of capital goods: raising the living standards of all parties involved. War hurts not only the loser, but also the victor of battle by eliminating the social division of labour, and requiring that both sides maintain isolationist policies and autarchic economies should the nation’s ever feud again. This is merely one sub-chapter of the book. Every page is filled with insights as profound as this, and worded much better. An absolute must read.

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