Gale Encyclopedia of American Law Volume 6 P36 fully illuminates today's leading cases, major statutes, legal terms and concepts, notable persons involved with the law, important documents and more. Legal issues are fully discussed in easy-to-understand language, including such high-profile topics as the Americans with Disabilities Act, capital punishment, domestic violence, gay and lesbian rights, physician-assisted suicide and thousands more. | 338 LIBERTARIANISM 523 686 votes receiving more votes than any other third party candidate. FURTHER READINGS Bergland David. 2000. Libertarianism in One Lesson. Huntington Beach Calif. Orpheus. Herrnson Paul S. and John C. Green eds. 1997. Multiparty Politics in America. Lanham . Rowman Littlefield. Libertarian Party. Available online at accessed September 21 2009 . CROSS REFERENCE Independent Parties. LIBERTARIANISM A political philosophy that advocates free will individual rights and voluntary cooperation. The core doctrine of libertarianism begins with the recognition that people have certain natural rights and that deprivation of these rights is immoral. Among these natural rights are the right to personal autonomy and property rights and the right to the utilization of previously unused resources. These two basic assumptions form the foundation of all libertarian ideals. Libertarianism can be traced back to ancient China where philosopher Lao-tzu advocated the recognition of individual liberties. The modern libertarian theory emerged in the sixteenth century through the writings of Etienne de La Boetie 1530-1563 an eminent French theorist. In the seventeenth century john locke and a group of British reformers known as the Levellers fashioned the classical basis for libertarianism with well-received philosophies on human nature and economics. Since the days of Locke libertarianism has attracted pacifists utopianists utilitarianists anarchists and fascists. This wide array of support demonstrates the accessibility and elasticity of the libertarian promotion of natural rights. Essential to the notion of natural rights is respect for the natural rights of others. Without a dignified population voluntary cooperation is impossible. According to the libertarian the means to achieving a dignified population and voluntary cooperation is inextricably tied to the promotion of natural rights. Libertarianism holds that people lose their dignity as government
