# Being Nice and Self-Reliant: A New England Libertarianism **URL:** **By** Dan Moller, Aaron Ross Powell, Trevor Burrus **Published:** October 4, 2019 --- Dan Moller joins the show to discuss how libertarian philosophy includes more substance than a devotion to individual liberty. It is often assumed that libertarianism depends on thinking that property rights are absolute, or on fetishizing individual liberty. But, Dan Moller argues that the foundations of libertarianism lie in widely shared, everyday moral beliefs, especially regarding restrictions on shifting our burdens onto others. What does it mean to shift burdens? Where do rights come from? Why do some people find redistribution of wealth appealing? Why is utilitarianism self-deception? How utopian should you be in your political philosophy? ## Further Reading: [Governing Least: A New England Libertarianism](https://www.amazon.com/Governing-Least-Libertarianism-Political-Philosophy/dp/0190863242), written by Dan Moller [Locke and Nozick on the Justification of Property](https://www.libertarianism.org/blog/locke-nozick-justification-property), written by Matt Zwolinski ## Related Content: [A Libertarian Model of the Social Safety Net](https://www.libertarianism.org/columns/libertarian-model-social-safety-net), written by David S. D'Amato [Government Money and Bureaucratic Control](https://www.libertarianism.org/columns/government-money-bureaucratic-control), written by Grant Babcock [A Libertarian Perspective on the Modern American Welfare State](https://www.libertarianism.org/columns/libertarian-perspective-modern-american-welfare-state), written by Michael D. Tanner