Thomas DiLorenzo
Encyclopedia
Thomas James DiLorenzo is an American economics
professor
at Loyola University Maryland. He is an adherent of the Austrian School
of Economics. He is a senior faculty member of the Ludwig von Mises Institute
and an associated scholar of the Abbeville Institute. He was formerly an affiliated scholar of the now-defunct League of the South Institute, the research arm of the pro-secession League of the South
(though he has denied any lasting affiliation, noting that he only gave a few lectures there shortly after its founding). He holds a Ph.D.
in Economics from Virginia Tech.
, focusing on what has been called "the Lincoln Cult" as a political and historical phenomenon. In the same vein, he has spoken out in favor of the secession of the Confederate States of America
, defending the right of these states to secede in a view similar to that of abolitionist Lysander Spooner
. He has also criticized the crediting of the New Deal
for ending the Great Depression
.
In 2002, DiLorenzo debated Harry V. Jaffa
on the merits of Abraham Lincoln
's statesmanship prior to and during the civil war.
DiLorenzo lectures widely, and is a frequent speaker at Mises Institute events.
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at Loyola University Maryland. He is an adherent of the Austrian School
Austrian School
The Austrian School of economics is a heterodox school of economic thought. It advocates methodological individualism in interpreting economic developments , the theory that money is non-neutral, the theory that the capital structure of economies consists of heterogeneous goods that have...
of Economics. He is a senior faculty member of 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 an associated scholar of the Abbeville Institute. He was formerly an affiliated scholar of the now-defunct League of the South Institute, the research arm of the pro-secession League of the South
League of the South
The League of the South is a Southern nationalist organization, headquartered in Killen, Alabama, which states that its ultimate goal is "a free and independent Southern republic." The group defines the Southern United States as the states that made up the former Confederacy...
(though he has denied any lasting affiliation, noting that he only gave a few lectures there shortly after its founding). He holds a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Economics from Virginia Tech.
Scholarship
DiLorenzo has devoted much effort to scholarly historical revisionismHistorical revisionism
In historiography, historical revisionism is the reinterpretation of orthodox views on evidence, motivations, and decision-making processes surrounding a historical event...
, focusing on what has been called "the Lincoln Cult" as a political and historical phenomenon. In the same vein, he has spoken out in favor of the secession of the Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
, defending the right of these states to secede in a view similar to that of abolitionist Lysander Spooner
Lysander Spooner
Lysander Spooner was an American individualist anarchist, political philosopher, Deist, abolitionist, supporter of the labor movement, legal theorist, and entrepreneur of the nineteenth century. He is also known for competing with the U.S...
. He has also criticized the crediting of the New Deal
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
for ending the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
.
In 2002, DiLorenzo debated Harry V. Jaffa
Harry V. Jaffa
Harry V. Jaffa is Professor Emeritus at Claremont McKenna College and Claremont Graduate University and a distinguished fellow of the Claremont Institute. He has written on Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Winston Churchill, Leo Strauss, American constitutionalism...
on the merits of Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
's statesmanship prior to and during the civil war.
DiLorenzo lectures widely, and is a frequent speaker at Mises Institute events.
Publications
DiLorenzo has authored at least ten books, including:- Hamilton's Curse: How Jefferson's Arch Enemy Betrayed the American Revolution – and What It Means for Americans Today (2008)
- Lincoln Unmasked: What You're Not Supposed To Know about Dishonest AbeLincoln UnmaskedLincoln Unmasked: What You're Not Supposed to Know About Dishonest Abe is a 2006 follow-up biography to The Real Lincoln written by Thomas DiLorenzo that is highly critical of the Presidency of Abraham Lincoln.-Synopsis:...
(2006) - How Capitalism Saved America: The Untold Story of Our Country's History, from the Pilgrims to the Present|How Capitalism Saved America: The Untold History of Our Country, From the Pilgrims to the Present (2004)
- The Real Lincoln: A New Look at Abraham Lincoln, His Agenda, and an Unnecessary WarThe Real LincolnThe Real Lincoln: A New Look at Abraham Lincoln, His Agenda, and an Unnecessary War is a biography of Abraham Lincoln written by Thomas DiLorenzo in 2002...
(2003) - From Pathology to Politics: Public Health in America (2000)
- The Food and Drink Police: America's Nannies, Busybodies, and Petty Tyrants (1998)
- CancerScam: The Diversion of Federal Cancer Funds for Politics (1997)
External links
- Mises Archive of DiLorenzo commentary Lectures by DiLorenzo at the Ludwig von Mises InstituteLudwig von Mises InstituteThe 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...
. - Archive of DiLorenzo commentary for The Independent Institute
- Archive of DiLorenzo commentary for LewRockwell.comLewRockwell.comLewRockwell.com is a 501 libertarian web magazine operated by Burton Blumert , Lew Rockwell , Eric Garris , and others associated with the Center for Libertarian Studies ; its motto is "anti-state, anti-war, pro-market"...
- The Real Abraham Lincoln - a debate between Thomas DiLorenzo and Harry V. JaffaHarry V. JaffaHarry V. Jaffa is Professor Emeritus at Claremont McKenna College and Claremont Graduate University and a distinguished fellow of the Claremont Institute. He has written on Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Winston Churchill, Leo Strauss, American constitutionalism...
- Critical review of The Real Lincoln by Thomas Krannawitter of the Claremont Institute
- DiLorenzo and his Critics by Clyde N. WilsonClyde N. WilsonClyde N. Wilson is a professor of history at the University of South Carolina, U.S., a paleoconservative political commentator, a long-time contributing editor for Chronicles: A Magazine of American Culture and Southern Partisan magazine, and an occasional contributor to National Review...
- Interview with Thomas DiLorenzo in the " Southern PartisanSouthern PartisanSouthern Partisan is a right-wing political magazine published in the United States founded in 1979 that focuses on its Southern region and those states that were formerly members of the Confederate States of America. Its first editor was Thomas Fleming...
". - Q & A with Thomas DiLorenzo (video) on C-SPAN discussing his two books about Abraham Lincoln.
- The 2006 Steven Berger Seminar: Thomas DiLorenzo (10 videos)