The Constitution of Liberty

The Constitution of Liberty
by F. A. Hayek

The Constitution of Liberty
List Price: $26.00
Our Price: $19.26
You Save: $6.74 (26%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $11.47 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions


or

Book Summary Information

Author: F. A. Hayek
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 1978-10-15
ISBN: 0226320847
Number of pages: 580
Publisher: University Of Chicago Press

Book Reviews of The Constitution of Liberty

Book Review: Utilitarian Constitution
Summary: 5 Stars

Hayek undertook a monumental task when he set out to write the The Constitution of Liberty. Hayek aimed at finding the proper limits between public and private life. How far should the authority of the state extend? What areas of life should be beyond the reach of the government? Hayek is stating his version of the general principles of classical liberalism, based on utilitarian ethics. Since his arguments are utilitarian, this book has economic overtones.

Hayek's purpose in restating the principles of liberal society is to defend these principles against the opposing intellectual movement of collectivism. Western Civilization succeeded largely because of its individualism. Collectivism is undermining the basis of modern civilization in the West. Individualism is important because we each lack the knowledge needed to rationally direct the affairs of others. Some people believe that they can plan out society because they are `experts' or because they are educated. Hayek saw that nobody can posses the knowledge needed to design a rational order for society. As Hayek put it, "it is largely because civilization enables us constantly to profit from knowledge which we individually do not posses that men can pursue their individual ends more successfully than they could alone".

In writing this book, Hayek shifted his attention away from full-blown socialism and towards the modern welfare state. Hayek seems to have felt that the case for socialism had been sufficiently weakened so as to allow him to critique welfare states. Hayek accepted some types of government intervention that libertarians typically oppose. Rather than opposing each program point by point, Hayek sought out some `lynchpin issues' that would limit state growth. Hayek argued strenuously against state control of the money supply, and suggested ways of limiting taxation. Hayek's libertarian critics typically cringe at some of his concessions, but we would all be in a much better position now if his constitution had been adopted.

The Constitution of Liberty is more than well reasoned, it is subtle and profound. This book reveals Hayek's deep understanding of economics, politics, and history. Reading the COL is no small undertaking, but it is a highly useful undertaking for any serious student of political economy.

Summary of The Constitution of Liberty

"One of the great political works of our time, . . . the twentieth-century successor to John Stuart Mill's essay, 'On Liberty.'"-Henry Hazlitt, Newsweek

"A reflective, often biting, commentary on the nature of our society and its dominant thought by one who is passionately opposed to the coercion of human beings by the arbitrary will of others, who puts liberty above welfare and is sanguine that greater welfare will thereby ensue."-Sidney Hook, New York Times Book Review

In this classic work Hayek restates the ideals of freedom that he believes have guided, and must continue to guide, the growth of Western civilization. Hayek's book, first published in 1960, urges us to clarify our beliefs in today's struggle of political ideologies.

History Books

Book Subjects
Most talked about in History Books
Forgotten Soldier : The Classic WWII Autobiography (Brassey's Commemorative Series WWII) ImageForgotten Soldier : The Classic WWII Autobiography (Brassey's Commemorative Series WWII)
by Guy Sajer
Brassey's (UK) Ltd; Published: 1990-04-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $24.98
One Bullet Away: The Making of a Marine Officer ImageOne Bullet Away: The Making of a Marine Officer
by Nathaniel C. Fick
Mariner Books; Published: 2006-09-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.98
Price in other shops: $14.95
With the Old Breed at Peleliu and Okinawa ImageWith the Old Breed at Peleliu and Okinawa
by E. B. Sledge
Presidio Press; Published: 1990-03; Hardcover; Book
Price in other shops: $24.95
Code Book: The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography ImageCode Book: The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography
by Simon Singh
Diane Pub Co; Published: 1999-01; Hardcover; Book
Price in other shops: $30.00
Hawaii The Big Island Revealed; The Ultimate Guidebook ImageHawaii The Big Island Revealed; The Ultimate Guidebook
by Andrew Doughty, Harriett Friedman
Wizard Publications; Published: 1999-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $47.82
Truman ImageTruman
by David McCullough
Simon & Schuster; Published: 1992-06-15; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $17.95
Price in other shops: $40.00
James Cameron's Titanic ImageJames Cameron's Titanic
by James Cameron, Ed Marsh, Jain Lemos
HarperCollins; Published: 1997-12-31; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $29.94
Price in other shops: $50.00
Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst The Rwandan Holocaust ImageLeft to Tell: Discovering God Amidst The Rwandan Holocaust
by Immaculee Ilibagiza
Hay House; Published: 2006-03-15; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $14.53
Price in other shops: $23.95
Rocket Boys (The Coalwood Series #1) ImageRocket Boys (The Coalwood Series #1)
by Homer H. Hickam
Dell Publishing Company; Published: 1900; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $28.08
Seabiscuit: An American Legend ImageSeabiscuit: An American Legend
by Laura Hillenbrand
Ballantine Books; Published: 2002-03-26; Paperback; Book
Best price: $0.01
Price in other shops: $15.95
Similar Books and other products
The Law ImageThe Law
by Frederick Bastiat
BN Publishing; Published: 2008-09-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.97
Price in other shops: $2.99
Economics in One Lesson: The Shortest and Surest Way to Understand Basic Economics ImageEconomics in One Lesson: The Shortest and Surest Way to Understand Basic Economics
by Henry Hazlitt
Three Rivers Press; Published: 1988-12-14; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.31
Price in other shops: $13.95
The Wealth of Nations (Bantam Classics) ImageThe Wealth of Nations (Bantam Classics)
by Adam Smith
Bantam Classics; Published: 2003-03-04; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.97
Price in other shops: $7.95
Individualism and Economic Order ImageIndividualism and Economic Order
by F. A. Hayek
University Of Chicago Press; Published: 1996-06-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $18.55
Price in other shops: $21.00
The Road to Serfdom: Fiftieth Anniversary Edition ImageThe Road to Serfdom: Fiftieth Anniversary Edition
by F. A. Hayek
University Of Chicago Press; Published: 1994-10-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $95.00
Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto ImageLiberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto
by Mark R. Levin
Threshold Editions; Published: 2009-03-24; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $13.09
Price in other shops: $25.00
Free to Choose: A Personal Statement ImageFree to Choose: A Personal Statement
by Milton Friedman, Rose Friedman
Harvest Books; Published: 1990-11-26; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.67
Price in other shops: $15.00
The Fatal Conceit: The Errors of Socialism (The Collected Works of F. A. Hayek) ImageThe Fatal Conceit: The Errors of Socialism (The Collected Works of F. A. Hayek)
by F. A. Hayek
University Of Chicago Press; Published: 1991-10-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.94
Price in other shops: $18.00
Capitalism and Freedom: Fortieth Anniversary Edition ImageCapitalism and Freedom: Fortieth Anniversary Edition
by Milton Friedman
University Of Chicago Press; Published: 2002-11-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.34
Price in other shops: $16.00
The Road to Serfdom: Text and Documents--The Definitive Edition (The Collected Works of F. A. Hayek) ImageThe Road to Serfdom: Text and Documents--The Definitive Edition (The Collected Works of F. A. Hayek)
by F. A. Hayek
University Of Chicago Press; Published: 2007-03-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.62
Price in other shops: $15.00