Self-governance absent force is a pipe dream. I said it. Everyone that touts it, me included at one point, understands full well that the majority still prefers using force to (however ironically) live in harmony with others. The argument is that we shouldn't enslave those who are responsible and CAN self-govern for the sake of those who can't.
There is a common misconception that "anarchy" = no force. And maybe there is some version of anarchy for which that is true. But the predominant libertarian version of anarchy - anarchocapitalism - is not one of them. Literally no anarchocapitalist is proposing a world with no law, no enforcement, or no force.
And yes, there are absolute jerks in the libertarian anarchist community. Just like there are absolute jerks in every single community on earth. The difference though, between a jerk in an anarchist society and a jerk in a position of power in a statist society is that the former does not have the ability to violently enforce their jerkiness on others without consequence.
In fact, the world we live in now could be described as "lawless". Those who are part of the monopoly on force are, in reality, above the law. They are free to violate the rights of everyone else without fear of any consequences for themselves.
The foundational idea of anarcho capitalism is not the elimination of force, or of law, but the elimination of the MONOPOLY on force. The whole point is to have a society where EVERYONE is accountable for their actions, and their crimes. Not just the lowly serfs.
I spoke at length about all of this with anarchocapitalist economist Bob Murphy, in a recent interview. You might be interested:
"We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion."
There is a common misconception that "anarchy" = no force. And maybe there is some version of anarchy for which that is true. But the predominant libertarian version of anarchy - anarchocapitalism - is not one of them. Literally no anarchocapitalist is proposing a world with no law, no enforcement, or no force.
And yes, there are absolute jerks in the libertarian anarchist community. Just like there are absolute jerks in every single community on earth. The difference though, between a jerk in an anarchist society and a jerk in a position of power in a statist society is that the former does not have the ability to violently enforce their jerkiness on others without consequence.
In fact, the world we live in now could be described as "lawless". Those who are part of the monopoly on force are, in reality, above the law. They are free to violate the rights of everyone else without fear of any consequences for themselves.
The foundational idea of anarcho capitalism is not the elimination of force, or of law, but the elimination of the MONOPOLY on force. The whole point is to have a society where EVERYONE is accountable for their actions, and their crimes. Not just the lowly serfs.
I spoke at length about all of this with anarchocapitalist economist Bob Murphy, in a recent interview. You might be interested:
https://bit.ly/3Semn69
"We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion."