Principles of a Free Society

The principles of a free society begin with habeas corpus-- the right to one's own body-- and freedom of conscience, argues Nathan Smith in this treatise on liberty. On the basis of these two principles, Smith rethinks the foundations for a free society in this bold and timely volume written in the radical tradition of John Locke's Second Treatise on Government. Smith argues that property rights, grounded both in natural rights (Locke) and efficiency considerations (Ronald Coase), include rights in the use of streets, the distinctive characteristic of which is that no one can be excluded from them. From this Smith derives an argument for the ability of each individual to enjoy the natural freedom of mobility (albeit regulated by immigration taxes). The great threat to a free society comes from "sovereignty"-- the doctrine advanced by Thomas Hobbes (1651) that the great and powerful are exempt from the moral law. In its national variant, Hobbes' doctrine of sovereignty wrought terrible damage in the 20th century, underpinning wars, fascism, socialism, and ethnic cleansing, and providing a rationale for segregating mankind on the basis of place of birth through the prohibition of migration across national borders. In this thught-changing book, Smith explores the role of wars of liberation, free trade agreements and civil disobedience asmeans whereby sovereign powers have been curtailed and whereby freedom of the individual may be restored. He ends on a hopeful note, with a powerful reminder that political freedom has its origins in Christianity which gave rise to a new institution, the Christian Church, which no sovereign has been able to destroy, and which insists on the infinite value of every individual and the subjection of every person, even the most powerful, to the moral law. "Nathan Smith is one of the most creaive and thoughtful young social scientists on the market. If he doesn't convince you, he will at least intrigue you." -- Bryan Caplan.