Limits of State Action (Paperback)

Paperback. The Limits of State Action, by "Germany's greatest philosopher of freedom," as F. A. Hayek called him, has an exuberance and attention to principle that make it a valuable introduction to classical liberal political thought. It is also crucial for an understanding of liberalism as it developed in Europe at the turn of the nineteenth century. Humboldt explores the role that liberty plays in individual development, discusses criteria for permitting the state to limit individual actions, and suggests ways of confining the state to its proper bounds. In so doing, he uniquely combines the ancient concern for human excellence and the modern concern for what has come to be known as negative liberty. Originally published in 1852, this book argues against state promotion of citizen welfare and state interference with private acts. The book is timely, with the US reexamining many of its social policies, and Eastern European countries redesigning their political and social structures. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. …