Wikipedia:
Libertarianism is a
political philosophy or a family of related political philosophies based on support for
individual liberty.
Libertarians believe that allowing individuals to own, and be
responsible for, their own property and their own bodies is a necessary
aspect of liberty. Libertarians believe in limiting the power and
ability of government to restrict liberty. While libertarian philosophy
has deep roots in the historical philosophy and values of the United
States of America, in modern times, freedom and recognition of rights
of self-determination have become central issues throughout the world.
Broadly speaking, there are two types of libertarians: rights theorists and
consequentialists.
[1] Rights theorists (some of whom may be
deontologists) assert that all persons are the
absolute owners of their lives, and should be free to do whatever they wish with their
persons or
property,
provided they do not infringe on the rights of other--i.e., they allow
others the same liberty. They maintain that the initiation of force by
any person or government, against another
person or their
property—with
force meaning the use of physical force, the threat of it, or the commission of
fraud
against someone—who has not initiated physical force, threat, or fraud,
is a violation of that principle. They do not oppose force used in
response or
resistance to initiatory aggressions such as violence, threat of violence, fraud or trespassing.
Consequentialist libertarians do not have a moral prohibition
against "initiation of force," but believe that a society that allows
individuals to enjoy a large scope of
political and
economic liberty
is the most conducive environment for individuals, or society as a
whole, to achieve maximum well-being and prosperity. Many of them
maintain that a
limited government is necessary for the maximization of liberty. This type of libertarianism is associated with
Milton Friedman,
Ludwig von Mises,
Friedrich Hayek, and
James M. Buchanan. Some of these writers who have been called libertarians have also been referred to as
classical liberals, by others or themselves. Also, some use the phrase "the freedom philosophy" to refer to libertarianism,
classical liberalism, or both.
[2][3] Libertarians may differ over particular issues, such as
abortion, and some support the U.S. led coalition's invasion of Iraq while some oppose it.
[4] There is a distinction between a
libertarian and a
member of a Libertarian Party, the latter of which would be called a
Libertarian with a capital "L", as not all libertarians agree with any particular libertarian organization's platform.
