Freedom and the Law (1961 ed.)
- Bruno Leoni (author)
The first edition of this book. The greatest obstacle to rule of law in our time, contends the author of this thought-provoking work, is the problem of overlegislation. In modern democratic societies, legislative bodies are increasingly usurping functions that were and should be exercised by individuals or groups rather than government. The result is an unwieldy surfeit of laws and regulations that by their sheer volume stifle individual freedom.
Related People
Critical Responses
Essay
Review of Leoni, Freedom and the LawMurray N. Rothbard
Rothbard provides a critical commentary of Freedom and the Law and discusses Leoni’s alternative model of how law should function in society.
Article
Bruno Leoni’s Legacy and Continued RelevanceTodd J. Zywicki
Zywicki discusses the ways in which Leoni’s alternative model of the functions of the law in society is more relevant than ever. This review identifies how the law-making by executive edict within the 21st century is aligned with the trends that Leoni identified when he wrote Freedom and the Law…
Liberty Classic
Law, Legislation, and LeoniArnold Kling
In this Liberty Classic at Econlib, Kling fears society today has grown too complex for Leoni’s proposed legal system to work.