Liberalism and Libertarianism (Objectivism)

Traders get revenue from circulating goods and services of which they get a cut from each transaction.

This is why they want as much freedom as possible so that there would be as much circulation as possible.

They disregard the evils of overcirculation just as Warriors disregard the evils of undercirculation.

This commonly leads to The dominance of traders and

The Mercantile Period of the 17th century and Capitalist Period of the 19th century led to the ideologies of Liberalism and Libertarianism.

Liberalism

Liberalism came as an effect of Mercantilism.

Foreign trade brought a lot of wealth to Europe, creating a sense of empowerment and desire for freedom. Prior to this, the Church was dominant and imposed modestry, austerity, and frugality.

The increase in sensory desires led to the fall of the Church through the French Revolution which separated the Church from the State.

From that time onwards, the austere policy was abandoned in favor of wealth and economic growth.

The main proponents of liberalism are:

1. John Locke (1632–1704)

His writings on natural rights, including life, liberty, and property, are central to liberal thought.

He argued that individuals have inalienable rights and that government exists to protect these rights, with its power being derived from the consent of the governed.

Locke’s social contract theory greatly influenced liberal democratic thought and the principles of limited government, equality, and individual freedom.

2. Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–1778)

He also pushed for a social contract theory, as well as corporate organization.

Libertarianism

Libertarianism emerged with the strengthening of Capitalism in the 19th and 20th centuries.

We put the main proponent of this as Ayn Rand who was able to influence many people through her novel, Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead.

• Emphasis on Individual Freedom: Libertarianism is a political philosophy that prioritizes individual liberty and autonomy. It advocates for minimal government intervention in both personal lives and the economy.
  • Minimal Government: Libertarians argue for a minimal state—often referred to as a night-watchman state—which is primarily concerned with protecting individuals’ rights (e.g., property rights, personal safety, and freedom of speech). The government’s role should be restricted to law enforcement, national defense, and the judicial system.
  • Free Markets: Libertarianism supports free-market capitalism, advocating for voluntary exchange without government regulation, taxation, or redistribution.
  • Non-Aggression Principle: Libertarians believe that the initiation of force is inherently wrong and that individuals should interact voluntarily and peacefully.

Objectivism

This is a philosophical system from Russian Ayn Rand based on individualism – the belief that individuals have the right to pursue their own happiness and self-interest without interference from others, including the state.

Objectivism believes that rational self-interest should guide human actions. It emphasizes the importance of:

• reason
• individual rights
• the pursuit of one’s own happiness

We put this under the 4th Law because it happens twards the end of the Trader Cycle where the lack of spiritual knowledge causes the mind to go further into freedom and material desires.

To satisfy more desires, it pushes for liberty.

Objectivism advocates for a laissez-faire capitalist society, where the government’s role is limited to protecting individual rights—specifically, protecting people’s property and ensuring the enforcement of contracts. and national defense.

Rand argued that capitalism is the only moral social system because it respects individual rights and allows people to pursue their own happiness.

It rejects altruism or the moral doctrine that individuals have a duty to serve the needs of others. This is because it sees altruism as a form of self-sacrifice that undermines human flourishing.

There are no taxes, no regulation of business, and no welfare systems.

Objectivism strongly defends private property and the right of individuals to freely engage in commerce, accumulate wealth, and keep the fruits of their labor.

Objectivism argues that individuals should engage in voluntary, mutually beneficial exchanges in the marketplace, driven by rational self-interest.