Non-aggression principle

The non-aggression principle or non-aggression axiom is defined as a prohibition against the initiation of force, or the threat of force, against persons or property (usually referred to as aggression or coercion). It is one of the basic tenets of libertarianism, and is an inviolable rule within almost all of libertarian thought. As most libertarians base their philosophy in natural law or rule utilitarianism, they regard the non-aggression principle as having a moral foundation. However, some libertarians do not believe that a rule against aggression can exist until it is created as a result of contract, and they favor the establishment of such a contract as being conducive to the furtherance of self-interest.

Related Topics:
Aggression - Coercion - Libertarianism - Natural law - Rule utilitarianism

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It forms the ethical basis for the libertarian rejection of many governmental actions such as taxation and seizure of property through eminent domain, as well as interpersonal crimes such as theft and murder. A libertarian can be defined as someone who does not believe it is proper for an individual to initiate force on another person, for any reason whatsoever.

Related Topics:
Taxation - Eminent domain - Theft - Murder

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This principle derives from natural rights theory and from economic theory, though different libertarian thinkers will emphasize different aspects of the principle. Perhaps the most eminent libertarian natural rights theorist was Austrian School economist Murray Rothbard, who derived natural rights from the axiom of self-ownership in his book "The Ethics of Liberty". In his view, the non-aggression principle of libertarianism is a direct result of the natural condition of man: he has the right to act in whatsoever manner he chooses, as long as he does not infringe upon anyone else?s right to act as they choose.

Related Topics:
Natural rights - Economic theory - Austrian School - Murray Rothbard - Self-ownership

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Walter Block described the same with these words:

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:"The non-aggression axiom is the lynchpin of the philosophy of libertarianism. It states, simply, that it shall be legal for anyone to do anything he wants, provided only that he not initiate (or threaten) violence against the person or legitimately owned property of another. That is, in the free society, one has the right to manufacture, buy or sell any good or service at any mutually agreeable terms." {{ref|Block2003}}

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and:

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:"The foundation of libertarianism is the non-aggression axiom. This states that it is illicit to initiate or threaten invasive violence against a man or his legitimately owned property. Murray Rothbard characterized this as "plumb line" libertarianism: follow this one principle, and you will be able to infer the libertarian position on all issues, without exception." {{ref|Block2001}}

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Murray Rothbard wrote:

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:"The fundamental axiom of libertarian theory is that no one may threaten or commit violence ('aggress') against another man's person or property. Violence may be employed only against the man who commits such violence; that is, only defensively against the aggressive violence of another. In short, no violence may be employed against a nonaggressor. Here is the fundamental rule from which can be deduced the entire corpus of libertarian theory." {{ref|Rothbard}}

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