libertarianism

From libertarian +‎ -ism.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /lɪbəˈtɛːɹɪənɪz(ə)m/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

libertarianism (countable and uncountable, plural libertarianisms)

1. (philosophy, politics, economics) A political philosophy maintaining that all persons are the absolute owners of their own lives, and should be free to do whatever they wish with their persons or property, provided they allow others that same liberty.
   • 1971 January 10, Stan Lehr, Louis Rossetto, “The New Right Credo–Libertarianism”, in The New York Times‎, →ISSN:

     Nevertheless, advocates of individual freedom not only continue to exist, but are increasing in number. Refugees from the Old Right, the Old Left and the New Left, they are organizing independently under the New Right banner of libertarianism.

   • 2014, Astra Taylor, chapter 4, in The People's Platform: Taking Back Power and Culture in the Digital Age, Henry Holt and Company, →ISBN:

     The peculiar brand of libertarianism in vogue within technology circles means a minority of members—a couple of outspoken misogynists—can disproportionately affect the behavior and mood of the group under the cover of free speech.

2. (philosophy) The doctrine of free will, as opposed to necessitarianism.

• In contemporary US usage often implying right-libertarianism or conservative-libertarianism.

• left-libertarianism
• right-libertarianism