Book Review: The Digital Person
I received my preprints of the book review I wrote for the Journal of Law, Economics & Policy, Volume 1, Number 2 (Winter 2005). The journal will contain a series of articles on the topic of cybercrime by major figures in the anarcho-libertarian field including, Bruce Benson, David Friedman, Pete Leeson, Ed Stringham, Ben Powell, Chris Coyne and an introduction by Pete Boettke. I reviewed The Digital Person: Technology and Privacy in the Information Age by Daniel J. Solove. Here's a PDF of my review. Download file
"The knowledge which can be gained from the study of this text is found in the placement that Solove's topic has within the broader debate surrounding the role of knowledge in society. Solove's points chime in right around the time we recognize that computers have great potential for advancing the spread and use of productive information. Computers provide tools capable of tapping into dispersed knowledge; but, we must simultaneously recognize that they are not miracle cures to be implemented from central positions of authority. The knowledge which they coordinate is valuable only in so far that it is dispersed and subjective. The hazardous notions of knowledge, in the Hayekian sense, would be those which claim to be more complete and universally applicable than they actually are. When based upon such false notions, actions stand to be erroneous, misinformed, and the host to unintended consequences."
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