RIP David Koch.

Some vile opinions on David Koch but for me, his gifts to the scientific and cultural community, were tremendous. He supported the world of ideas and also the cause of human liberty. He should be praised for improving the lives of so many through his philanthropy but many people are unaware that his contributions to the private sector did more to improve quality of life for humans than any of his philanthropic gifts. One example in particular is the innovations in energy which brought light and heat to more people and at lower cost.

The Koch industries can't be praised for being perfect - no human creation is after-all. But the value created through providing energy should be viewed as at-least as much the value of his Philanthropy. The Kochs provided people with things at prices people were willing to pay for and that's how funds for donations to culture and science even came about.

Lastly, let us not forget the real gifts that producers in genuinely competitive markets provide humanity: a massive consumer surplus that comes from their ability to identify opportunities and create value for the masses.