Where Next? The Past, Present, and Future of Classical Liberalism Lead Essay (Cato Unbound Book 42012)

Classical liberalism has a rich and complex history. At Cato Unbound, we hope its future will be likewise. This month's issue takes stock of the past while proposing to examine the way forward, too: What's next in classical liberal political thought?



Matt Zwolinski and John Tomasi propose a straightforward but controversial approach: Market liberals, they say, can beat the advocates of social justice at their own game. If we recognize a just social system by the material rewards it extends to the least well-off among the working class, then we should recognize that the winner is… free-market capitalism. And the defenders of the free market ought not to be shy about it.



Are they right? If so, how do we make the case to a skeptical public? Joining us are two eminent scholars of the classical liberal tradition, Roderick Long and David Friedman, and one rising new star, Alexander McCobin, now a graduate student in political philosophy and the Executive Director of Students For Liberty.