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Freedom Book of the Month
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Free-Market.Net's F r e e d o m B o o k o f t h e M o n t h
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Edited by Sunni Maravillosa. To join or leave this and other
lists, click to: http://www.free-market.net/features/lists/
* November, 2002: "The Ultimate Foundation of Economic Science,"
by Ludwig von Mises
* New and notable
* The Way Back Machine: Of Beer and Freedom
* Special Announcement
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Freedom Book of the Month for November, 2002:
"The Ultimate Foundation of Economic Science: An Essay on Method"
by Ludwig von Mises
Foundation for Economic Education 2002, trade paper, 133 pp.
ISBN: 1-57246-200-0
I've already admitted publicly that I've not been able to get through
"Human Action" -- not yet, anyway -- so that fact, coupled with this
selection as Freedom Book of the Month, says a lot about "The
Ultimate Foundation of Economic Science." Subtitled "An Essay on
Method," Ludwig von Mises' last book examines the proper application
of scientific methods and philosophical ideas. While that might seem
a dull subject, remember that we're talking about von Mises and
praxeology -- the study of human action.
First published in 1962, one might read "The Ultimate Foundation of
Economic Science" and think the book is a little out of step with
modern times. After all, free-market ideas have gained much ground
in the 40 intervening years, and logical positivism, which receives
much attention in the essay, seems to be waning. Many other "isms,"
however, persist in academic and mainstream circles -- namely,
materialism, hard-core empiricism, and monism -- and von Mises takes
each to task deftly and justly. His views on studying human action
can
seem a bit radical, for he divides that study into "history" and
"praxeology" (psychology and the other behavioral sciences go into
the "history" category), but, agree with it or not (I'm not sure I
do), his justification is well thought out, and persuasive.
A slim volume, weighing in at 133 pages, "The Ultimate Foundation of
Economic Science" is packed with ideas. Von Mises sweeps from showing
a thorough understanding of Darwin's theory of natural selection
(which many current biologists seem yet to get) to holding forth on
epistemology. As an experimental psychologist, I found his critiques
of research methods across the sciences particularly informative and
on target. Yet one need not have an advanced degree, or any degree,
to find value in this book.
For those of you who have been intimidated by other of Ludwig von
Mises' books, "The Ultimate Foundation of Economic Science" is likely
to be a good introduction to his brilliance. Yes, you'll likely need
a good dictionary beside you (unless your conversation is sprinkled
with terms like "ampliative" and "supererogatory"), but the time
invested into comprehending his ideas will be well worth it. If
anything, von Mises' ideas have aged well in the time since "The
Ultimate Foundation of Economic Science" was first published, and
like a fine wine, continue to sparkle and show a first-rate lineage.
Order "The Ultimate Foundation of Economic Science" from Laissez
Faire Books:
http://www.free-market.net/rd/584273288.html, $14.95.
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New and notable
o "Invisible Resistance to Tyranny," by Jefferson Mack
Written in the wake of 9/11 and the surge of tyranny in response to
terrorism, it offers general ideas on resisting and thwarting the
ever-grasping tentacles of the state. Likely better suited for those
new to freedom activism.
Order "Invisible Resistance to Tyranny" from Amazon.com:
http://www.free-market.net/rd/216428739.html, $10.50.
o "The Joy of Freedom," by David R. Henderson
A wonderful, engaging blend of personal narrative and pro-freedom
ideas. Henderson, a professor of "the dismal science," likely makes
the subject sparkle if he teaches with the style he displays here.
An excellent book for sharing pro-freedom ideas.
Order "The Joy of Freedom" from Amazon.com:
http://www.free-market.net/rd/223921162.html, $18.90.
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The Way Back Machine: Of Freedom and Beer
Despite gains in some areas, liberty seems to be losing more ground
than she's gaining these days. The Homeland Security bill, with its
provisions allowing gummint agents (AKA the Thought Police) to poke
their noses into every corner of an individual's life, looks like a
sure thing; online privacy seems a chimera already; and the calls for
Food Police to monitor what we eat and drink are beginning to be
taken seriously. <Sigh ... >
Who will stand up against these encroaching tyrannies? To whom can
we look for inspiration and ideas? In my corner of freedom's nest,
I see few who want to become that kind of target ... so let us look
to
the past, via the Way Back machine. When I do this, I find Samuel
Adams. The more I read and discover about this remarkable man, the
more I'm convinced he's one of the unsung heroes of the first
American fight for freedom.
To try to list all his accomplishments is beyond our scope here, but
here's an idea of what he did. He was viewed as a radical in his day,
in part because he helped form the Sons of Liberty and organized the
Boston Tea Party; he also led the Stamp Act protest; he set up an
underground network for patriots; he was a delegate to the First
Continental Congress; some historians speculate that British actions
at Lexington and Concord were motivated in part by a strong desire
to capture Adams and his frequent collaborator, John Hancock; and
Thomas Jefferson referred to him as "the man of the revolution." To
learn more about this firebrand freedom advocate, who would likely be
as at home in today's troubled times as he was his own, I recommend
"Samuel Adams: The Father of American Independence." Written for
students, it is nonetheless equally engaging for adults.
Now, what does beer have to do with all this? Well, Samuel Adams was
also a brewer. In today's increasing climate of intolerance toward
individual choice, it seems highly fitting to me that we should hoist
a Sam Adams beer -- or better yet, learn to brew our own in an act of
civil disobedience (and tax avoidance).
Order "Samuel Adams: The Father of American Independence" from
Amazon.com:
http://www.free-market.net/rd/632429986.html, $12.60.
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o Special Announcement
Watch the Freedom Book of the Month home page for an announcement
this week! The URL is:
http://www.free-market.net/features/bookofthemonth/ .
All liberty-minded book lovers will be interested in this ...
Keep doing freedom,
Sunni Maravillosa
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