The Ethics of Liberty is a 1982 book by American philosopher and economist Murray N. Rothbard,[1] in which the author expounds a libertarian political position.

Part III applies his ethical theories to the State, which he viewed as "the inherent enemy of liberty and, indeed, of genuine law".

[5] Hans-Hermann Hoppe's Introduction to the 1998 edition of the book says that it "explains the integration of economics and ethics via the joint concept of property; and based on the concept of property, and in conjunction with a few general empirical (biological and physical) observations or assumptions, Rothbard deduces the corpus of libertarian law, from the law of appropriation to that of contracts and punishment.

[independent source needed] Libertarian commentator Sheldon Richman says: "The Ethics of Liberty is a great book that deserves the attention of anyone interested in the good society and human flourishing.

"[8] The philosopher Matt Zwolinski criticized the book, writing that "Rothbard's discussion of self-ownership in chapter six rests on a fundamental confusion between descriptive and normative claims.