# Auberon Herbert and Voluntaryism

**URL:** <https://www.libertarianism.org/podcasts/portraits-of-liberty/auberon-herbert-and-voluntaryism>

**By** Paul Meany

**Published:** May 21, 2020

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Auberon’s experience with war, politics, and his introduction to Herbert Spencer showed him there was an alternative to the state.

## Summary

Auberon Herbert was born into a wealthy English aristocratic family and started his political career. But after witnessing the horrors of war through Europe and America and witnessing the incompetence of parliament, he lost faith in the abilities of the state. Inspired by the writing of Herbert Spencer Auberon set out to articulate a political philosophy emphasizing the importance of consent and the voluntary state, which is strictly limited to the protection of our natural and self-evident rights.

## Related Content

[Auberon Herbert, Voluntaryist](https://www.libertarianism.org/essays/auberon-herbert-voluntaryist), written by Eric Mack

[Voluntarism](https://www.libertarianism.org/encyclopedia/voluntarism), Encyclopedia of Libertarianism