The Dialectics of Liberty: Exploring the Context of Human Freedom

This collection of essays explores the ways in which the defense of liberty can be bolstered by use of a dialectical method―that is, a mode of analysis devoted to grasping the full context of philosophical, cultural, and social factors requisite to the sustenance of human freedom. Its strength lies in the variety of disciplines and perspectives represented by contributors who apply explicitly dialectical tools to a classical liberal / libertarian analysis of social and cultural issues. In its conjoining of a dialectical method, typically associated with the socialist left, to a defense of individual liberty, typically associated with the libertarian right, this anthology challenges contemporary attitudes on both ends of the political spectrum. Though this conjunction of dialectics and liberty has been explored before in several works, including a trilogy of books written by one of our coeditors (Chris Matthew Sciabarra), this volume will be the first one of its kind to bring together accomplished scholars in political science, economics, philosophy, aesthetics, psychology, law, history, education, and rhetoric.

Edward W. Younkins is Professor of Accountancy and Business at Wheeling University, Executive Director of its Institute for the Study of Capitalism and Mortality, and the founder of the university's undergraduate major in Political and Economic Philosophy.


He is also the founding director of the school's Master in Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Science in Accountancy (MSA) programs. He earned in Ph.D. in Accountancy from the University of Mississippi and earned state and national hours on the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA) exams, respectively. Dr. Younkins also received the Outstanding Educator Award for 1997 from the West Virginia Society of CPAs.


He is on the editorial board of Reason Papers and Libertarian Papers, the advisory board of The Journal of Ayn Rand Studies (JARS), the board of trustees of The Savvy Street, and is series editor of Capitalist Thought: Studies in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics for Lexington Books. The author of numerous articles in accounting and business journals, he has also published in many free-market-oriented journals.


He has authored or edited a dozen books including his trilogy of books on freedom and flourishing: Capitalism and Commerce, Champions of a Free Society, and Flourishing and Happiness in a Free Society.

Gary Chartier is Distinguished Professor of Law and Business Ethics at La Sierra University, USA.