Free Markets, the Rule of Law, and Classical Liberalism
Freeman › Vol. 54 Nbr. 4, May 2004
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Summary
The history of liberty and prosperity is inseparable from the practice of free enterprise and respect for the rule of law. Ebeling comments on the lack of correct understanding of free enterprise, the rule of law, and liberalism in the world. He cites that a way to assure that society lives under a rule of law and not a rule of men is to insist that even those who implement and enforce the law be held accountable under certain clearly defined procedures in their dealings with the citizenry.
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Free Markets, the Rule of Law, and Classical Liberalism
The history of liberty and prosperity is inseparable from the practice of free enterprise and respect for the rule of law. Both are products of the spirit of classical liberalism. But a correct understanding of free enterprise, the rule of law, and liberalism (rightly understood) is greatly lacking in the world today.
Historically, liberalism is the political philosophy of individual liberty. It proclaims and insists that the individual is to be free to think, speak, and write as he wishes; to believe and worship as he wishes; and to peacefully live his life as he wishes. Another way of saying this is to quote from Lord Acton's definition: "By liberty I mean the assurance that every man shall be protected in doing what he believes his duty against the influence of authority and custom, and opinion."1 For this reason, he declared that the securing of liberty "is the highest political end."2Lord Acton did not say, you will notice, that liberty is the highest end, but rather the highest political end. In the wider context of a man's life, political and economic liberty are means to other ends. What ends? Those that give meaning and purpose to his sojourn on earth. Liberalism does not deny that there may be or is one ultimate Truth, or one moral "right," or one correct conception of "the good" and "the beautiful." What liberalism has ...See the full content of this document
