The Murderer Comes Home
Edmund Burke: Natural Lawyer
Natural Law and Democracy: The Philosophy of James Wilson
Trade, Nations, and War in an Enlightened Age
Why We Need Hume’s Wisdom on Factions
What Was the Scottish Enlightenment?
The Problem with the “Simple Principle” of Liberty
In response to: Can Libertarianism Be a Governing Philosophy?
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Publius’ Conservative Values
Late last month, constitutionalists marked the publication 230 years ago of Federalist 1 with reveries about Publius’ call for Americans to rise to the occasion and show the world that governments could be founded on “reflection and choice” rather than “accident and force.”
Is It Really Commercial Activity that Civilizes?
Don’t let references to “the dismal science” fool you. Classical liberal economics is actually a pretty optimistic way to look at life. Liberals maintain that markets create wealth, promote mutual gain, and unlock talents and resources in individuals and nations. And, they say, markets have political benefits. Since the Enlightenment, liberals have argued that markets promote civic pluralism by making people more reasonable and prudent; less given to political and, especially, religious enthusiasm; and eager to avoid divisive debates about deep commitments. That markets have these advantages is known as the doux commerce thesis. (That’s doux as in soft, or having a…