This paper argues—contra some Austro-libertarians—that whether a given exchange is welfare-enhancing or welfare-diminishing does not depend on that just unjust, respectively. Rather, we suggest in light of our two thought experiments, Austro-libertarianism has at least pro tanto reason to conceive justice and welfare as logically distinct ideals. would turn, most interestingly, predict the poss...

A GRABS B TO USE as a shield; A forces B to stand in front of him, and compels him to walk wherever A wishes. A then hunts C in order to murder the latter by shooting him. C also has a gun. Is it legally permissible for C to shoot at A in self defense under libertarian law? Were C to do so he would have to kill B, the innocent shield, in order to defend himself against the perpetrator, A. Assum...

In developing a theory of the rst appropriation of natural resources from the state of nature John Locke tells us that persons must leave enough and as good for others. Detailing exactly what this restriction requires divides right and left libertarians. Brie y, right libertarians interpret enough and as good as requiring no or very minimal restrictions on the rst appropriation of natural resou...

Job challenges the theological milieu of retributive justice prevalent in NearEastern society by daring to ask the veritable question: can people deserve? This article examines the theories of desert, agency, and righteousness embedded within the Job manuscript. Bracketing the question of theodicy, this study utilizes contemporary philosophical, theological and exegetical considerations to exam...

ALTHOUGH I SHALL HAVE highly critical things to say about Murphy and Callahan (2006), I am delighted they have written it, and very happy that the refereeing system organized by the editor of The Journal of Libertarian Studies, Roderick Long, saw fit to accept it for publication. And this for two reasons. First, a minor one: there are those who accuse libertarianism of being a cult. A necessary...

Abstract Recent research suggests that, regardless of the truth libertarianism about free will, there appears to be a widespread belief among nonphilosopher laypersons that choices agents are not causally necessitated by prior states affairs. In this paper, I propose new class debunking explanation for which call ‘reasons-based accounts’ (RBAs). start paper briefly recounting failures extant ap...