Exploring and celebrating the history, theory, and practice of free, prosperous, and tolerant societies.

“The only freedom which deserves the name, is that of pursuing our own good in our own way, so long as we do not attempt to deprive others of theirs, or impede their efforts to obtain it.”
– John Stuart Mill, On Liberty (1859)
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A photograph of F. A. Hayek in front of a bookshelf at the University of Chicago.
F. A. Hayek
The Pretence of Knowledge (Nobel Prize Lecture)

Hayek warns the economics profession—and the world—that attempting to use economic science to “scientifically” manage society can only end in disaster.

Nobel prize winning economist Professor Friedrich Hayek, 84, at a presentation ceremony at which he received the Aims of Industry organisation's first International Free Enterprise Award.
F. A. Hayek
Nobel Banquet Speech

F. A. Hayek addresses the banquet associated with the 1974 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, arguing that the establishment of the prize was a mistake.

An illustration of a woman purchasing a book. Pointing to the book, a bubble contains illustrations of some of the inputs that went into making the book, both raw materials and processes.
Donald J. Boudreaux
From The Essential Hayek: How We Make Sense of an Incredibly Complex World
A photo of Eric Mack speaking to employees of the Cato Institute in October 2024.
Eric Mack
Anarchy, State, and Utopia on Individualist Anarchism vs. the Minimal State

In this third and final essay in the series celebrating the 50th anniversary of Anarchy, State, and Utopia, Eric Mack returns to a fuller consideration of how Nozick defends the legitimacy of the minimal state against the anarchist arguments advanced by Murray Rothbard.

A photo of Eric Mack speaking to employees of the Cato Institute in October 2024.
Eric Mack
Anarchy, State, and Utopia: The Aftershock

In this second essay commemorating the 50th anniversary of Anarchy, State, and Utopia, Eric Mack offers further reflections on a selection of key themes of enduring interest in Nozick’s seminal work.

A photo of Eric Mack speaking to employees of the Cato Institute in October 2024.
Eric Mack
Anarchy, State, and Utopia at 50 years

Eric Mack introduces Robert Nozick’s Anarchy, State, and Utopia, one of the most important works of libertarian political philosophy.

Black-and-white photographic portraits of John Rawls (left) and Robert Nozick (right) set in front of colored sunburst designs (red and yellow, respectively).
Grant Babcock
Nozick on Distributive Justice and the Difference between Entitlement and Desert

The entitlement-​desert distinction plays a pivotal role in the debate between Rawls and Nozick. What did Nozick take those concepts to mean?

Black-and-white photographic portraits of (from left to right) David Schmidtz, Joel Feinberg, and John Hospers.
Grant Babcock
Feinberg and the Libertarians on Desert

Joel Feinberg’s work on desert plays a pivotal role in modern libertarian moral philosophy.

A photo of F.A. Hayek smoking a pipe outside
Perspectives on Hayek: A Collection

A small collection of works about F. A. Hayek to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of his winning the Nobel Prize.

A photographic portrait of a smiling, elderly F.A. Hayek.
Samuel Gregg
Knowledge’s Limits and a Nobel Economist’s Humility

Friedrich Hayek stressed the limits of our knowledge and the need for humility to understand the economy.

A painting of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, PA by Ferdinand Richardt.
John G. Grove
The Latent Wisdom in Our Constitution

A book review of Yuval Levin’s American Covenant.

A painting of the signing of the Declaration of Independence by John Trumbull.
John Berlau
A Declaration of Independence from the Administrative State?

The decision in Jarkesey v. SEC offers an opportunity to reflect on the importance of checks and balances and the separation of powers.

Picture of Lemuel Haynes from the frontispiece of Sketches of the Life and Character of the Rev. Lemuel Haynes, A. M. (1837).
Lemuel Haynes
Excerpts from “Liberty Further Extended”

Haynes argues that there is no principled reason to deny people their natural rights on the basis of race, and that as such, slavery must be abolished.

A cropped section of a portrait of Thomas Paine.
Thomas Paine
Common Sense Excerpt: The Origin of Government and the English Constitution

Paine urged the colonists not to replicate the aspects of the English constitution that caused it to degenerate.

David Boaz stands behind a lectern, with the Cato Institute logo on the wall behind him.
Alexander McCobin
Remembering David Boaz

Remembrances of how David Boaz helped foster the libertarian student movement.

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Portraits of Liberty

In Memoriam

In Memoriam: Fred Smith

On the Cato at Liberty blog, Ivan G. Osorio memorializes Fred L. Smith, Jr., founder of the Competitive Enterprise Institute and a champion of the free market who “cared about liberty because he cared about people.”

In Memoriam: Fred Smith