What Is Libertarianism?

Libertarianism is a political philosophy that takes individual liberty to be the primary political value. Britannica describes it as a form of liberalism, linked to thinkers such as John Locke, John Stuart Mill, Adam Smith and Thomas… The Atlas covers 10 libertarian ideologies, listed below with their estimated positions.

Libertarianism explained

Libertarianism is a political philosophy that takes individual liberty to be the primary political value. Britannica describes it as a form of liberalism, linked to thinkers such as John Locke, John Stuart Mill, Adam Smith and Thomas Jefferson.

Core ideas

• The nonaggression principle.
• Individualism and spontaneous order.
• Free markets and the rule of law.
• Limited government.

Origins

Libertarianism draws on the classical liberal tradition.

Associated thinkers

John Locke, Adam Smith, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Nozick

Based on Britannica: Libertarianism (checked October 20, 2026).

Types of libertarianism on the Atlas

Economic: 0 collective/planned – 100 market. Social: 0 progressive – 100 traditional. Authority: 0 libertarian – 100 authoritarian. How these are calculated.

Average position of the family

Simple average of the 10 ideologies above; the family is a grouping used by the Atlas, not a single doctrine.