Lysander Spooner | |
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Born | Athol, Massachusetts, U.S. | January 19, 1808
Died | May 14, 1887 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | (aged 79)
Occupation | Entrepreneur, lawyer and writer |
Nationality | American |
Subject | Political philosophy |
Notable works | The Unconstitutionality of Slavery (1845) No Treason (1867) |
Philosophy career | |
Era | 19th-century philosophy |
Region | Western philosophy |
School | Iusnaturalism |
Main interests |
Part of a series on |
Individualism |
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Lysander Spooner (January 19, 1808 — May 14, 1887) was an American abolitionist, entrepreneur, lawyer, essayist, natural rights legal theorist, pamphletist, political philosopher, Unitarian and writer often associated with the Boston anarchist tradition.
Spooner was a strong advocate of the labor movement and is politically identified with individualist anarchism.[1][2] His writings contributed to the development of both left-libertarian and right-libertarian political theory.[3] Spooner's writings include the abolitionist book The Unconstitutionality of Slavery and No Treason: The Constitution of No Authority, which opposed treason charges against secessionists.[4][5]
He is cited for his criticisms of the U.S. Constitution and is known for establishing the American Letter Mail Company, which competed with the United States Postal Service.
Barnett 2011
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