Free learning.No sign-up or account is required to study these guides.

Learning section

Learn about liberal thinkers

Study liberal authors by ideas, not only biography: rights, markets, democracy, trade, law, planning and individual liberty.

See authorsSee pathBack to hub

Goal

Learn authors through the problems they help explain

This section avoids treating authors as isolated names. It organizes them as entry points into problems: markets, public authority, liberty, rights, democracy, trade and planning.

Key readings

Authors and initial maps

Adam SmithMarkets, division of labor, trade and moral economy.David RicardoClassical political economy, trade, rent and comparative advantage.Authors of classical liberalismInitial map of authors, ideas and main contributions.History of classical liberalismHistorical context for studying authors and currents.

Recommended path

Study liberal thinkers in three steps

01

Start with the general map

Base

Place authors, schools and problems before studying isolated biographies or texts.

Authors of classical liberalismHistory of classical liberalism
02

Study markets and political economy

Intermediate

Learn how Smith and Ricardo help explain trade, value, division of labor and classical political economy.

Adam SmithDavid RicardoLiberal economics
03

Connect authors with liberty and rights

Intermediate

Use each author as an entry point into concrete problems: liberty, rights, law, public authority or open society.

Individualism and libertyState and political powerLearn about liberalism

By interest

Choose what to study first

  1. To study markets
  2. To study liberty
  3. To study institutions
  4. To start from scratch

Mental model

Authors as maps of problems

RightsMarketsTradeDemocracyPlanningLiberty

Return to the learning hub

Use the main hub to connect authors with liberal economics, individual liberty and institutional learning.

Back to learningSee Authors section
↑