Tags: libertarianism

The Non-Aggression Principle - Why Libertarians Find it So Important published by The 1st Amender

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Posted on 2019-02-12

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The non-aggression principle. For those that do not know what it is, it's very simple. You do not act with aggression unless acted with aggression. Often times memes on the internet regarding anarcho-capitalism and libertarianism will disregard the non-aggression principle. Memes like this to dismantle the non-aggression principle (NAP) are common:

The common issue that I have with these funny little pictures is that it often will aggress against the non-aggression principle. The issue I have with the above picture is that you assumed that children have the ability of consent. That you are in-fact aggressing on children by forcing them to consent. And to point that if someone is physically on your property, given that the only aggression being that they are on your property and no more, you can safely say any person with "reason" would not shoot the child.

So why do Libertarians hold the NAP in such high regard? What value could the NAP possibly give us in this modern day? Simple. The concept of the NAP goes back thousands of years. Yet we don't call it the NAP. There is the existence of the Golden rule: "Treat other people the way you would like to be treated with respect." and the famous verse in the Bible: "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you." are all examples of NAP. That rational people can effectively hold this creed in highest value regardless of race, creed, sex, affiliation, etc.

This is a beautiful premise that lays hold into the values a Libertarian holds. That they simply do not want to harm you. That they would actively avoid harm. And that the same principle can then be placed at the standard of the government, society, companies, etc. Anything that involves the existence of humans running it requires the NAP rule. Even in the earliest recesses of humanity, we can think of natural innate beliefs that someone would not generally want to cause harm unto another. And unless aggressed on, that you would apply the necessary amount of force to prevent or stop the aggression from happening.