Source: EconLog
by Pierre Lemieux
“John Locke’s idea that tyranny is arbitrary power as opposed to the rule of law seems to underlie the whole classical liberal tradition (see Locke’s Second Treatise of Government [1690, Chapter 18]). Arbitrary power allows the state or any other central political authority to discriminate among its subjects by bribing its supporters and harming its opponents. In reality, public discrimination (in the sense of state discrimination) is probably a synonym of arbitrary power. The gradual discovery of the rule of law has come with the idea that the state should not discriminate among its citizens, residents, and often even foreigners.” (09/11/25)