Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person who believes in the doctrine of free will: A libertarian, in philosophical terms, is someone who upholds the belief that individuals possess free will, meaning they have the power to make choices that are not wholly determined by prior causes or divine intervention.
   • An advocate of libertarianism: In politics and economics, a libertarian is a person who strongly advocates for individual liberty, minimal state intervention, and the maximization of autonomy and freedom of choice, especially in personal and economic matters.

Examples

• Noun:
  • As a libertarian, she argued that the government's only role should be to protect individual rights.
  • The philosopher was a libertarian who rejected the idea of determinism.

Advanced Usage

• "Small-l libertarian": Often used to describe someone who holds libertarian principles but may not be a formal member of a Libertarian political party. It emphasizes the philosophy over partisan affiliation.
  • He's a small-l libertarian, favoring deregulation but not necessarily all the platform of the Libertarian Party.

Variants and Related Words

• Libertarianism (n): The political philosophy or set of beliefs that advocates for minimal state intervention and emphasizes individual liberty, free markets, and the right to private property.
  • His thesis was a critique of modern libertarianism.

Synonyms

• Individualist: A person who emphasizes independence and self-reliance.
• Classical liberal: A term often used synonymously or historically to describe similar beliefs in limited government and personal freedom.

Antonyms

• Authoritarian: A person who favors or enforces strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom.
• Statist: A person who believes in significant state control over social and economic matters.

Related Phrases

• Libertarian principle: A fundamental tenet of libertarian thought, such as the non-aggression principle.
  • The debate centered on the libertarian principle of self-ownership.
• Libertarian view/position: A perspective aligned with libertarianism.
  • He took a libertarian view on drug legalization.

Noun

1. someone who believes the doctrine of free will
2. an advocate of libertarianism