Liberty and Equality in Political Economy ─ From Locke Versus Rousseau to the Present

Liberty and Equality in Political Economy is an evolutionary account of the ongoing debate between two narratives: Locke and liberty versus Rousseau and equality. Within this book, Nicholas Capaldi and Gordon Lloyd view these authors and their texts as parts of a conversation, therefore highlighting a new perspective on the texts themselves. The authors argue that the debate initiated between Locke and Rousseau continues to define political economy today. They not only explore the strengths of each narrative, but also indicate how proponents within each will respond to their rivals. Other important views in economics and philosophy, including the works of Immanuel Kant, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, Alexis de Tocqueville, John Stuart Mill, Milton Friedman, Friedrich Hayek and Michael Oakeshott, are examined in conjunction with Locke; the works of the French Revolution, Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, the Progressives, John Maynard Keynes, John Kenneth Galbraith, John Rawls and Thomas Piketty reflect Rousseau’s divergent views. Together this provides a rich exploration of the philosophical underpinnings of modern economics and politics.This comprehensive analysis will be of interest to philosophers, political theorists and economists who wish to join the conversation. Graduate and undergraduate students in political theory, history of economics, political philosophy and business ethics courses will also find this book valuable.

Nicholas Capaldi, Legendre-Soule Distinguished Chair in Business Ethics, Loyola University, New Orleans and Gordon Lloyd, Senior Fellow, Ashbrook Center, and Dockson Emeritus Professor of Public Policy, Pepperdine University, US