Liberty Fund Conferences

The conference program reflects our founder’s conviction that education in a free society requires a dialogue among active minds freely engaged in pondering the ideas that have shaped human civilization in general and the free society in particular. Mr. Goodrich believed education to be a lifelong responsibility of each individual.

Liberty Fund has concluded, from its long experience with conferences, that a Socratic discussion format is the most conducive to a full and open exploration of ideas. As a result, all Liberty Fund conferences are roundtable in nature. The exchange of ideas is facilitated by a scholar chosen to lead the discussion but who is neither a conferee nor an advocate. Readings are distributed well in advance of the conference and serve as a starting place for discussion. Liberty Fund prefers readings to be original works rather than commentaries.

The purpose of the discussions is neither to convey doctrine nor to drive home certain conclusions. Each conference challenges conferees to examine, refine, and extend their own ideas in the company of inquiring colleagues who also are interested in questions of liberty and responsibility. The conversations result in ideas that mold Liberty Fund’s program agenda and publishing philosophy for the future.