Common law: a better foundation for Liberalism
In conventional political philosophy, law is understood as consciously created rules that are a necessary mechanism for regulating the excesses of the free market. Although coercive in nature, law is seen as a necessary defence against anarchy. But is the situation that simple?
In his examination of the purpose and functioning of the legal system, John Hasnas challenges this false dichotomy, presenting a new theory of liberalism that demonstrates that the common law can serve as an effective alternative to traditional politically created legislation.
Meet our speaker and chair
John Hasnas is a professor of law (by courtesy) at Georgetown University Law Center, a professor of business at Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business, and the Executive Director of the Georgetown Institute for the Study of Markets and Ethics.
Bryan Cheang is the Director of the LSE Hayek Program and STICERD Fellow.
More about this event
Modern economic thinking needs to reaffirm and engage with sound Hayekian ideas in this age of global interconnectedness, when the world is coming to grips with multitude of challenges, including global pandemic, climate change, social inequities and inequalities, and politico-media complex. This can only be achieved through fostering dialogue among stakeholders, which include researchers, policymakers, experts, and key decision-makers. The Hayek Programme in Economics and Liberal Political Economy at LSE (@STICERD_LSE) provides a space where this dialogue can happen. This programme aims to contribute to the research and public debate suited to the demands of 21st century.
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