Law of equal liberty

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The law of equal liberty is a doctrine first spelled out by Herbert Spencer which says "...that every man may claim the fullest liberty to exercise his faculties compatible with the possession of like liberty to ever other man."

This doctrine has been influential on political theorists, including classical liberalism, libertarians, and individualist anarchists.

Spencer believed that human happiness was part of God's plan, and that therefore whatever increases man's happiness is good and whatever decreases it is bad. He held that "man's purpose can be obtained only by the exercise of his faculties" and therefore that exercise must be a human right. But, if an individual restrains another individual from doing the same, then he has overstepped his rights. Therefore, rights are equalized among all people.