The Austrian School of economics arose in opposition to the German Historical School; and Carl Menger developed his methodological views in combat with the rival group. Gordon discusses the philosophical doctrines of the Historical School, and examines some of the philosophical influences on the founders of the Austrian School.
This monograph was prepared from a transcript of a talk Dr. Gordon gave at the Mises University summer program at Stanford University in 1994. The informal style of an oral presentation has been retained here. The text has been edited, expanded, and lightly documented.
David Gordon is Senior Fellow at the Mises Institute and editor of the Mises Review.
Murray Rothbard entered Columbia University at age 16 and by the time he was graduated from that institution with a Ph.D. in economics, he already had done path-breaking work in economics. His legacy has only grown since then.
If you have time to read only one book about the American Revolution, it should be this one. It formed the basis for Rothbard’s conclusion that “in the deepest sense, the American Revolution was a conscious majority revolution in behalf of libertarianism and against power."
Birzer does not grasp the importance of states’ rights in preserving liberty against the leviathan central government. In Randolph’s words, “I love liberty; I hate equality.” However, readers will learn a great deal from reading it.
