Georgetown Scholar to Present Libertarian Legal Theory at Angelo State

SAN ANGELO, TX - John Hasnas, executive director of the Institute for the Study of Markets and Ethics at Georgetown University, will give a special guest presentation at Angelo State University on Wednesday, Oct. 16, at 5:30 p.m. in the Houston Harte University Center, 1910 Rosemont Drive.

Sponsored by the Texas Tech University Free Market Institute at Angelo State University, Hasnas's presentation will take place in the University Center's C.J. Davidson Conference Center and is free and open to the public.

In his presentation based on his new book, "Common Law Liberalism: A New Theory of the Libertarian Society," Hasnas will examine the purpose and functioning of the U.S. legal system. In conventional political philosophy, law is understood as consciously created rules that are a necessary mechanism for regulating the excesses of the free market. Although coercive in nature, law is seen as a necessary defense against anarchy. But is the situation that simple? Hasnas will challenge this false dichotomy, presenting a new theory of liberalism that demonstrates that the common law can serve as an effective alternative to traditional politically created legislation.

Also a professor of law at Georgetown University Law Center and a professor of business at the GU McDonough School of Business, Hasnas has held previous appointments as associate professor of law at George Mason University School of Law, visiting associate professor of law at Duke University School of Law and the Washington College of Law at American University, and Law and Humanities Fellow at Temple University School of Law.

Hasnas has also been a visiting scholar at the Kennedy Institute of Ethics in Washington, D.C., and the Social Philosophy and Policy Center in Bowling Green, Ohio. He received his B.A. in philosophy from Lafayette College, his J.D. and Ph.D. in legal philosophy from Duke University, and his LL.M. in legal education from Temple Law School. His scholarship concerns ethics and white collar crime, jurisprudence and legal history.

The TTU Free Market Institute at ASU aims to advance research and teaching related to the free enterprise system, and donor support helps the institute continue its speaker series and student programming. In celebration of the institute's five years on the ASU campus, an anonymous donor has pledged to match all future monetary gifts for the institute up to $250,000. Gifts can be made online at angelo.edu/fmi or by contacting the ASU Office of Development and Alumni Relations at 325-942-2116.