David Gordon (philosopher)
Encyclopedia
Intellectual history
Note: this article concerns the discipline of intellectual history, and not its object, the whole span of human thought since the invention of writing. For clarifications about the latter topic, please consult the writings of the intellectual historians listed here and entries on individual...
influenced by Rothbardian views of economics. He is a senior fellow at the Ludwig von Mises Institute
Ludwig von Mises Institute
The Ludwig von Mises Institute , based in Auburn, Alabama, is a libertarian academic organization engaged in research and scholarship in the fields of economics, philosophy and political economy. Its scholarship is inspired by the work of Austrian School economist Ludwig von Mises...
and editor of "The Mises Review."
Gordon received degrees from University of California Los Angeles, including a Doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in intellectual history. He has contributed to scholarly publications such as Analysis
Analysis (journal)
Analysis is a peer-reviewed academic journal of philosophy established in 1933 that is published quarterly by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Analysis Trust. Prior to January 2009, the journal was published by Blackwell Publishing. Electronic access to this journal is available via JSTOR ,...
, International Philosophical Quarterly
International Philosophical Quarterly
The International Philosophical Quarterly is a peer-reviewed academic journal edited by a group of academics at Fordham University, with the collaboration of the Facultés universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix. It was established in 1961 to provide a publishing forum for the international exchange of...
, The Journal of Libertarian Studies, The Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics, "Social Philosophy and Policy" and Econ Journal Watch
Econ Journal Watch
Econ Journal Watch is a triannual peer-reviewed electronic journal established in 2004. It is published by the Atlas Economic Research Foundation on behalf of the American Institute for Economic Research...
. He also has been published in the The Orange County Register
The Orange County Register
The Orange County Register is a daily newspaper published in Santa Ana, California. The Register is the flagship publication of Freedom Communications, Inc., which publishes 28 daily newspapers, 23 weekly newspapers, Coast magazine, and several related Internet sites.The Register is notable for its...
, The American Conservative
The American Conservative
The American Conservative is a monthly U.S. opinion magazine published by Ron Unz. Its first editor was Scott McConnell, his successors being Kara Hopkins and the present incumbent, Daniel McCarthy....
and The Freeman
Foundation for Economic Education
The Foundation for Economic Education is one of the oldest free-market organizations established in the United States to study and advance the freedom philosophy. Murray Rothbard recognizes FEE for creating a "crucial open center" that he credits with launching the movement...
Gordon’s 1991 book Resurrecting Marx: The Analytical Marxists on Freedom, Exploitation, and Justice has been described as “a refutation of neo-Marxist attempts to save the system from itself.” The book, which answers the arguments of Marxist political philosophers, including Gerald Cohen
Gerald Cohen
Gerald Allan "Jerry" Cohen was a Marxist political philosopher, formerly Visiting Quain Professor of Jurisprudence, University College, London and Chichele Professor of Social and Political Theory, All Souls College, Oxford...
, was reviewed in the American Political Science Review
American Political Science Review
The American Political Science Review is the flagship publication of the American Political Science Association and is the most prestigious journal in political science according to the ISI 2004 Journal Citation Report...
and the "Journal of Communist Studies."
Gordon's book The Philosophical Origins of Austrian Economics, which explores the philosophical origins of Carl Menger
Carl Menger
Carl Menger was the founder of the Austrian School of economics, famous for contributing to the development of the theory of marginal utility, which contested the cost-of-production theories of value, developed by the classical economists such as Adam Smith and David Ricardo.- Biography :Menger...
’s economic theories, was highly praised by Murray Rothbard. Gordon later wrote "Second thoughts on The Philosophical Origins of Austrian Economics" to answer some academic concerns.
Gordon edited Secession, State & Liberty, a collection of eleven essays which make the case that secession should be given serious consideration. The essays examine American history, look at theoretical issues and apply theory to the modern world.
For his book The Essential Rothbard, Gordon had full access to Murray Rothbard’s private correspondence. The book is an intellectual biography that uses private and public papers to review Rothbard’s economic thought, historical method, political ideology and cultural outlook and social theory.
Murray N. Rothbard described Gordon as a friend and “Mr. Erudition.” Hans-Hermann Hoppe
Hans-Hermann Hoppe
Hans-Hermann Hoppe is an Austrian School economist of the anarcho-capitalist tradition, and a Professor Emeritus of economics at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.-Academic career:...
described him as the "semiofficial reviewer of the libertarian community." Brian Doherty
Brian Doherty
Brian Doherty may refer to:* Brian Doherty , Chicago alderman, former amateur boxer* Brian Doherty , senior editor, Reason magazine* Brian Doherty , drummer from They Might be Giants...
, in his Radicals for Capitalism
Radicals for Capitalism
Radicals for Capitalism: A Freewheeling History of the Modern American Libertarian Movement is a book by American journalist and Reason senior editor Brian Doherty. It is about the history of libertarianism in the 20th century. It traces the evolution of the movement, as well as the life stories...
, writes that Gordon is "the only man around who knows as much as Rothbard did when it comes to the historical, philosophical and economic background of libertarianism." The Orange Country Register described Gordon as a "polymath
Polymath
A polymath is a person whose expertise spans a significant number of different subject areas. In less formal terms, a polymath may simply be someone who is very knowledgeable...
."
In 1985 Gordon worked with professor Walter Block
Walter Block
Walter Edward Block is a free market economist and anarcho-capitalist associated with the Austrian School of economics.-Personal history and education:...
on a law review article called “Extortion and the Exercise of Free Speech Rights” which explores contradictions and paradoxes in laws against blackmail and the conditions under which such laws are acceptable.
In 2011 Econ Journal Watch
Econ Journal Watch
Econ Journal Watch is a triannual peer-reviewed electronic journal established in 2004. It is published by the Atlas Economic Research Foundation on behalf of the American Institute for Economic Research...
published an article Gordon wrote with Swedish consultant Per Nilsson called “The Ideological Profile of Harvard University Press: Categorizing 494 Books Published 2000-2010.” They presented a spread sheet analysis of the books, some of which they had not read, and concluded the Harvard press’s political slant’s problem “is not that it is ideological, but that its ideology is predominately leftist.” A reviewer noted that one author did not consider his book “leftist” and that the reason other books were so characterized was not clear.
Books
- Editor, with Jeremey Shearmur. H. B. Acton's The Morals of Markets and Related Essays, 2nd edition (April 1, 1993). Liberty Fund, Inc, 1993. ISBN 978-0865971066
- Editor,