Reality, Reason, and Rights Essays in Honor of Tibor R. Machan

Tibor R. Machan, one of the most prolific and wide ranging philosophers of our time, has been known internationally for decades through his public speaking, opinion columns, and of course his scholarly writing. This collection of essays seeks to explore Machan's philosophical ideas by considering some of the basic issues with which he has been concerned throughout his long and highly productive career. The essays range from those concerned with the nature of reality and knowledge to those dealing with the nature of the political/legal order. Topics such as the character of human nature, free choice and responsibility, the justification of individual rights, and the place of justice in the contemporary welfare state-among other basic issues-are discussed in these essays. Because Machan himself dealt with questions of central importance, the essays should appeal to a wide range of interests and disciplines in philosophy and related fields. But the essays are also written by people accomplished in their own right and thus seek not only to comment on Machan, but to make their own contribution to enduring philosophical issues. The volume should be of value to both students and faculty alike.

Douglas B. Rasmussen is professor of philosophy at St. John's University in New York City. His coauthored books include Norms of Liberty: A Perfectionist Basis for Non-Perfectionist Politics and Liberty and Nature: An Aristotelian Defense of Liberal Order. He is also coeditor of The Philosophic Thought of Ayn Rand. Aeon J. Skoble is professor and chair of philosophy at Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts. He is coeditor of Political Philosophy: Essential Selections, Woody Allen and Philosophy, The Philosophy of TV Noir, and The Simpsons and Philosophy. He is also author of Deleting the State: An Argument about Government and editor of Reading Rasmussen and Den Uyl: Critical Essays on Norms of Liberty. Douglas J. Den Uyl is vice president of educational programs at Liberty Fund, Inc. His published books include Power, State, and Freedom: An Interpretation of Spinoza's Political Philosophy, The Virtue of Prudence, Liberty and Nature: An Aristotelian Defense of Liberal Order, Liberalism Defended: The Challenge of Post-Modernity, Norms of liberty: A Perfectionist Basis for Non-Perfectionist Politics, and God, Man, Well-Being: Spinoza's Modern Humanism.