Tom Luongo is a former chemist who now comments on matters surrounding thinking freely and living freely.
Libertarianism is a political philosophy that emphasises individual liberty, limited government intervention, and free markets.
At its core, libertarianism champions the idea that individuals should have the freedom to live their lives as they choose, as long as they do not infringe upon the rights of others. It advocates for a minimal role of government, focusing primarily on protecting individual rights and enforcing contracts.
In other words, self-ownership and individual autonomy.
It’s about having the right to make decisions about your own body, property, and economic activity without interference from the government or other individuals, championing the importance of voluntary interactions and opposition to coercive or involuntary actions.
Friedrich Hayek was an Austrian-British economist and philosopher, whose work focused on the importance of decentralised decision-making and the limitations of central planning. His book The Road to Serfdom warned against the dangers of collectivism and government control.
Collectivism refers to the ideology or societal framework that prioritises the collective group or community over the rights, autonomy, and individual freedoms of individuals.
In short, collectivism promotes the following:
- suppression of individual liberty;
- lack of Incentives for innovation and productivity;
- limited diversity and creativity;
- potential for tyranny and abuse of power;
- lack of personal responsibility; and
- social uniformity.
Basically, thinking freely and living freely are crucial to both happiness and prosperity due to the fundamental human need for self-determination and the ability to shape one’s own life.
When individuals have the freedom to make choices and pursue their own goals according to their values and desires, it leads to a greater sense of fulfillment, well-being and creativity.
