• Libertarian Ethical Principles: Toward A Definitive Statement

    PREFACE: This isn't a justification or criticism of libertarian ethics. If you're already a libertarian, I won't be telling you anything you don't already know. The idea here is just to give a definitive statement of our principles in the simplest, most concise manner possible – without sacrificing completeness. I want you to be able to logically deduce the libertarian answer to any ethical question from these principle alone. This is a work in progress. Tell me if you think I forgot anything, got anything wrong, or didn't state something as clearly as it could be stated.

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    What Is Property
    1. To use something is to physically change it or move it.
    2. Only things capable of undergoing physical change or movement can be owned.
    3. To own property is to have the exclusive right to use something.
    4. A property owner may enforce his rights with whatever force is minimally necessary.

    Acquiring Property by Homesteading
    5. The first person to use something in nature thereby becomes its owner.
    6. Each person is the original owner of his body.

    Acquiring Property by Exchange
    7. All property is transferable.
    8. Property is transferred if and only if all parties voluntarily consent.
    9. Action is voluntary if and only if it is not performed under threat of aggression.

    Aggression and Its Consequences
    10. To use property which one does not own without the permission of its owner is aggression.
    11. A person is responsible for an event if and only if (a) his action was a necessary condition for the event to occur, (b) he knew or reasonably should have known that his action would cause the event, and (c) the action was voluntary.
    12. An aggressor is liable to his victim for twice the value of the property of which he deprived the victim.

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    Note #1. I have deliberately ignored the question of the legal status of children and mentally incompetent adults. It's very tricky and there's no consensus among libertarians on how this should work. But whatever your view, I think it clearly requires a special set of rules: separate from those stated above.

    Note #2. Only one part of this (I think) should be controversial. From Principle #7 it follows that the body is alienable (i.e. voluntary slavery is legitimate). If you disagree, just amend Principle #7 to read "All property but the body is transferable."


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