Leftlibertarians

Left-libertarianism is a political philosophy that combines a commitment to individual liberty with egalitarian concerns about wealth and resources. It is typically contrasted with right-libertarianism, which emphasizes strong private property rights and minimal redistribution, arguing that initial acquisitions justify current distributions.

Left-libertarians affirm self-ownership and freedom of exchange but contend that natural resources are either a common heritage or must be distributed in ways that preserve equal liberty of opportunity. A central idea is a practical Lockean proviso: acquiring land or resources should not infringe others’ basic liberties. Because resources are limited, holdings are often argued to require compensation or be constrained to maintain equal liberty, such as equal opportunities or basic liberties for all. Some formulations advocate usufruct or time-limited rights, or social ownership of essential resources.

Variants exist within left-libertarian thought. Some defend a market economy with redistribution to secure equal liberties, while others favor more cooperative or social ownership of productive assets, aligning with libertarian socialist traditions.

Notable figures commonly associated with left-libertarianism include Peter Vallentyne, Hillel Steiner, and Michael Otsuka, who have helped articulate the approach to equality of opportunity and the proviso. The view is related to, but distinct from, libertarian socialism and contrasts with Nozickian entitlement theory on property.

Critiques focus on how to apply the proviso in practice, especially globally, how compensation would be calculated, and how to reconcile libertarian methods with egalitarian goals without undermining liberty or efficiency.