Jan Narveson (born June 15, 1936) is a Canadian philosopher and Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada. He is a prominent figure in the fields of political philosophy and ethics, recognized primarily for his defense of libertarianism from a contractarian perspective.
Narveson received his PhD from Harvard University, where he studied under John Rawls and Robert Nozick. Throughout his academic career, his philosophical position shifted from utilitarianism—the subject of his 1967 work Morality and Utility—toward a right-libertarian framework. His 1988 book, The Libertarian Idea, is considered one of his most influential works, providing a comprehensive philosophical justification for individual liberty, private property, and a minimal state.
His philosophical approach is characterized by contractarianism, the view that moral and political principles are valid only if they could be agreed upon by rational individuals for their mutual advantage. Narveson argues that such a rational agreement would prioritize a principle of non-aggression and a respect for negative rights (freedom from interference), rather than positive rights to state-provided services. He has written extensively on various topics, including social justice, environmental ethics, and the role of the market in society.
In recognition of his contributions to Canadian intellectual life and philosophy, Narveson was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2003. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Beyond his academic work, Narveson is known for his long-standing involvement in the arts, specifically as the founder of the Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Music Society.
Selected Bibliography:
- Morality and Utility (1967)
- The Libertarian Idea (1988)
- Moral Matters (1993)
- Respecting Persons in Theory and Practice (2002)
- You and Others: Reflections on Contemporary Liberalism (2010)
