If you suddenly hear someone say to you: “Read a Harry Potter fanfic,” you can be skeptical of the idea, especially if you have little time for wands and spells. But after opening the first pages of “Harry Potter and Methods of Rational Thought” by Eliezer Yudkowsky, you’ll likely understand: this is exactly what I was missing.
Imagine what it would be like if Harry were raised not by conformist *muggles*, but by real scientists. Here, magic is a puzzle that can be solved through scientific experiments instead of “magic just happens because Joan Rowling said so.” Instead of obedience to authority – healthy skepticism and the desire to find the truth yourself. This isn’t just a retelling of the famous story; it’s a deep and witty critique of traditional thinking, bureaucracy, and blind adherence to rules.
So what’s libertarian about this? Well, almost everything!
Rationality here opposes mysticism and authority, and the main character of the book, Harry-the-scientist, constantly asks uncomfortable questions. “Why does this rule work?” “How do you know it’s true?” and, most importantly, “Can I check it myself?” Such questions are a nightmare for any authoritarian regime. Because when people start thinking for themselves, they’re much harder to manipulate. Yudkowsky here reminds us of Ayn Rand, who warned: “Where there is mysticism, there is always tyranny.” Harry literally shows us that magical thinking (even in the literal sense!) breeds obedience and stagnation.
Harry from this work doesn’t agree with being told how to think and act. He acts independently and autonomously, choosing his own friends, ideas, and rules to follow. And when he’s told, “You can’t change it, that’s the way it’s always been,” Harry responds: “What if you could?” This is a pure libertarian dream – a person who refuses to live by imposed templates. He’s like a character from Ayn Rand’s novel – not a “second-rater” but someone who creates their own reality.
And remember the Ministry of Magic? In this book, it’s even worse than in the original. This government isn’t just inefficient—it’s cruel, conservative, and downright inhumane. Harry is shocked by the existence of Azkaban and Dementors. His reaction isn’t to accept it but to find a way to change things. As if Lisander Snape were at Hogwarts and decided to overthrow the local government simply because it violates the natural rights of *wizards*.
Yudkowsky also mercilessly mocks the pointless veneration of traditions. The magical world in this book is so attached to established customs that Harry regularly experiences a mixture of bewilderment and irritation. Why write with a quill on parchment when you have pens? Why follow ridiculous rules when they are clearly outdated? This reminds us of an old joke: “That’s how it’s always been done” – the worst argument possible.
And the brightest and boldest theme of the book – fighting death. Wizards for centuries had reconciled themselves to the fact that people die, even though they literally had a cure for death in their hands. Harry doesn’t accept this order of things and plans to use the Philosopher’s Stone to grant immortality to everyone. This is straight up modern techno-libertarians who believe in technology freeing us – from illness, violence, and even the state.
Why should you read it? Yudkovsky gives us a powerful manifesto of intellectual freedom, rationality, and critical thinking. Yes, formally it’s a fanfic. But essentially – it’s a classic Enlightenment novel disguised as fantasy. It’s a story where rationality, freedom, and individualism triumph over dogmatism, bureaucracy, and authoritarianism. As Milton Friedman said: “Concentrated power is dangerous, even when its creators were motivated by the best intentions.” Harry Potter by Yudkovsky demonstrates this to us on the example of a magical world that had been living in an illusion of traditions and obedience for far too long.
