Libertarianism (, "freedom") is a collection of political philosophies and movements that uphold liberty as a core principle. Libertarians seek to maximize political freedom and autonomy, emphasizing freedom of choice, voluntary association, individual judgment, and self-ownership. 

Libertarians share a skepticism of authority and state power. However, they diverge on the scope of their opposition to existing political and economic systems. Various schools of libertarian thought offer a range of views regarding the legitimate functions of state and private power, often calling to restrict or to dissolve coercive social institutions. 

Some libertarians advocate laissez-faire capitalism and strong private property rights, such as in land, infrastructure, and natural resources. Others, notably libertarian socialists, seek to abolish capitalism and private ownership of the means of production in favor of their common or cooperative ownership and management, viewing private property as a barrier to freedom and liberty. An additional line of division is between minarchists and anarchists. While minarchists think that a minimal centralized government is necessary, anarchists and anarcho-capitalists propose to completely eliminate the state. 

The first recorded use of the term "libertarian" was in 1789, when William Belsham wrote about libertarianism in the context of metaphysics. 

"Libertarian" came to mean an advocate or defender of liberty, especially in the political and social spheres, as early as 1796, when the London Packet printed on 12 February: "Lately marched out of the Prison at Bristol, 450 of the French Libertarians." The word was again used in a political sense in 1802, in a short piece critiquing a poem by "the author of Gebir", and has since been used with this meaning. QUESTIONS:

Q1:
1. When was the first use of the word libertarian?
2. What year did the word libertarian first appear in?
3. In what year did the first usage of the word libertarian occur?
Q2:
1. Who used the term libertarian for the first time?
2. Who was the first to use the term libertarian?
3. Who was the first person to make use of the term libertarian?
Q3:
1. What was the context of William Belsham's usage of the word libertarian?
2. In what context did William Belsham first make reference to libertarians?
3. What was William Belsham discussing when he first wrote about libertarians?
Q4:
1. How did William Belsham define libertarians?
2. What did the word libertarian mean to William Belsham?
3. What was the original definition of the term libertarian?
Q5:
1. What does the less specific word "libertarianism" mean?
2. What is meant by the rather general term "libertarianism"?
3. How can the general idea of "libertarianism" be defined?
Q6:
1. What does libertarianism consist of?
2. What makes up the philosophy of libertarianism?
3. What are the elements of libertarianism?
Q7:
1. What is fundamental to libertarian movements?
2. What do libertarian movements stand for?
3. What is a core principle of libertarian movements?
Q8:
1. What do libertarians mistrust?
2. What are libertarians often mistrustful of?
3. What do libertarians look upon with skepticism?
Q9:
1. Do different kinds of libertarians exists?
2. Is there more than one type of libertarian?
3. Are there multiple different ways of being a libertarian?
Q10:
1. What is one type of libertarian?
2. What is one branch of libertarianism?
3. What's one of the subgroups of libertarians?
Q11:
1. What do libertarian socialists want?
2. What is sought by the libertarian socialists?
3. What is the main goal of libertarian socialists?
Q12:
1. What do libertarian socialists want, in addition to abolishing capitalism?
2. What is sought by the libertarian socialists, along with the abolition of capitalism?
3. What is the main goal of libertarian socialists, in addition to capitalism's abolition?
Q13:
1. How do libertarians sometimes have opposing views?
2. What's an example of libertarians that don't agree on an issue?
3. What is one issue that libertarians do not all agree on?
Q14:
1. In what year was the London Packet written?
2. What was the year that the London Packet was written in?
3. When did the London Packet come out?
