Anarcho-capitalist FAQ
Qu'est-ce que le capitalisme anarchique? Le capitalisme anarchique c'est la philosophie et théorie politique suivante: 1- L'Etat est un mal inutile et devrait être aboli, et 2-Un système économique libéral de propriété privée est moralement acceptable.
1. What is anarcho-capitalism?
Anarcho-capitalism is the political philosophy and theory that
1. the State is an unnecessary evil and should be abolished, and 2. a free-market private property economic system is morally permissible.
La première partie est simplement la définition d'"anarchisme", et la deuxième partie est un léger propriétarisme, plus connu généralement comme un "libre marché" ou "laissez-faire". Regardons de plus près chacune des deux parties de notre définition.
Part one is simply the definition of "anarchism," and part two is soft propertarianism, known more generally as "a free market" or "laissez-faire." Let's look more closely at each of the two parts of our definition.
La permissivité morale est une position "minimum". Quasiment tous les capitalistes anarchiques croient également qu'un système économique de "laissez-faire" est généralement meilleur que des alternatives.
Moral permissibility is a "minimum" position. Almost all anarcho-capitalists believe also that a laissez-faire economic system is generally better than alternatives.
Certains propriétaristes vigoureux, tels que les objectivistes, vont plus loin et déclarent que le "laissez-faire" est le seul système économique moral. Une définition typique d'anarchiste issue du dictionnaire est: "La théorie ou doctrine selon laquelle toute forme de gouvernement est oppressive et indésirable et devrait être abolie". Cette définition suit l'étymologie du mot: "anarchisme" provient du Grec anarkhia qui signifie "sans arkhê" (chef, roi, règles...1). C'est la signification essentielle de ce terme -contre l'Etat. (Source additionnelle: Wikipédia, étymologie du terme "anarchie")
Some strong propertarians, such as objectivists, go further and claim that laissez-faire is the only moral economic system.
A typical dictionary definitionPf of anarchism is: "The theory or doctrine that all forms of government are oppressive and undesirable and should be abolished."Pf This definition follows the etymology of the word: "Anarchism" is derived from the Greek ??? meaning "without archon" (ruler, chief, or king.) This is the core meaning of the term - against the State.
Cela signifie contre l'Etat dans le principe, en tant qu'institution, pas seulement contre certaines politiques ou certains représentants. Murray Rothbard a inventé le terme "capitaliste anarchique" durant l'hiver 1949 ou 1950.
This means against it in principle, as an institution, not merely against certain policies or personnel.
Murray Rothbard coined the term "anarcho-capitalist" in the winter of 1949 or 1950.
"Ma position entière était incohérente [...], il y avait seulement
"My whole position was inconsistent [...], there were only two logical possibilities: socialism, or anarchism. Since it was out of the question for me to become a socialist, I found myself pushed by the irresistible logic of the case, a private property anarchist, or, as I would later dub it, an anarcho-capitalist."Pf
2. Why should one consider anarcho-capitalism?
First, there is the issue of self-ownership, as the abolitionists called it, or moral autonomy as the philosophers call it.
Votre vie est-elle votre seul but moral? Devez-vous obéissance à quelqu'un sans considération pour le consentement? Dans le langage du droit naturel: Avez-vous des droits - des revendications morales pour la liberté d'action? Si vous répondez oui à toutes ces questions, alors la logique vous conduit à la position d'anarchisme philosophique.
Is your life your own moral purpose? Do you owe anyone obedience regardless of consent? In natural rights language: Do you have rights - moral claims to freedom of action? If you answer yes to any of these questions, then logic leads you to the position of philosophical anarchism.
Le signe déterminant de l'Etat c'est l'autorité, le droit à diriger. L'obligation primaire de l'homme c'est l'autonomie, le refus à être dirigé.
The defining mark of the state is authority, the right to rule. The primary obligation of man is autonomy, the refusal to be ruled.
Il semblerait alors qu'il ne peut y avoir aucune résolution du conflit entre l'autonomie de l'individu et l'autorité putative de l'Etat. Pour autant qu'un homme remplisse son obligation à se faire lui-même l'auteur de ses décisions, il résistera à la prétention de l'Etat à avoir une autorité sur lui.
It would seem, then, that there can be no resolution of the conflict between the autonomy of the individual and the putative authority of the state. Insofar as a man fulfills his obligation to make himself the author of his decisions, he will resist the state's claim to have authority over him.
C'est à dire qu'il niera qu'il a le devoir d'obéir aux lois de cet Etat, tout simplement car elles sont les lois. Dans ce sens, il semblerait que l'anarchisme soit la seule doctrine politique consistante avec la vertu d'autonomie." - Robert Paul Wolff, In Defense of Anarchism.
That is to say, he will deny that he has a duty to obey the laws of this state simply because they are the laws. In that sense, it would seem that anarchism is the only political doctrine consistent with the virtue of autonomy." - Robert Paul Wolff, In Defense of Anarchism.
A second more utilitarian reason is the dismal record of States. Considering all the war, genocide, slavery, and repression perpetrated by States through history, might humanity do better without this barbaric institution? As the young Edmund Burke wrote in the world's first anarchist essay (before he went conservative):
These Evils are not accidental.
Whoever will take the pains to consider the Nature of Society, will find they result directly from its Constitution. For as Subordination, or in other Words, the Reciprocation of Tyranny, and Slavery, is requisite to support these Societies, the Interest, the Ambition, the Malice, or the Revenge, nay even the Whim and Caprice of one ruling Man among them, is enough to arm all the rest, without any private Views of their own, to the worst and blackest Purposes; and what is at once lamentable and ridiculous, these Wretches engage under those Banners with a Fury greater than if they were animated by Revenge for their own proper Wrongs - Edmund Burke, A Vindication of Natural Society.
That was written in 1756, long before modern weapons of mass destruction and long before 170 million civilian people were murdered by their own governments in the 20th century.
That's just civilian deaths perpetrated by their own governments; it doesn't count the deaths due to enemy States, deaths of soldiers, dislocated refugees, and so on.
To quote Rothbard, "If we look at the black record of mass murder, exploitation, and tyranny levied on society by governments over the ages, we need not be loath to abandon the Leviathan State and ... try freedom."
3. Do anarcho-capitalists favor chaos?
No. Anarcho-capitalists believe that a stateless society would be much more peaceful, harmonious, and prosperous than society under statism.
We see life under States as chaotic - the insanity of war and the arbitrariness of government regulation and plunder. Anarcho-capitalists agree with the "father of anarchism" Pierre Proudhon: "Liberty is not the daughter but the mother of order," and his contemporary Frederic Bastiat, who wrote of the "natural harmony" of the market, that "natural and wise order that operates without our knowledge." ("Economic Harmonies")
4. Isn't anarcho-capitalism utopian?
No. Anarcho-capitalists tend to be pragmatic, and argue that, no matter how good or bad man is, he is better off in liberty.
If men are good, then they need no rulers. If men are bad, then governments of men, composed of men, will also be bad - and probably worse, due to the State's amplification of coercive power.
Most anarcho-capitalists think that some men are okay and some aren't; and there will always be some crime. We are not expecting any major change in human nature in that regard.
Since utopianism by definition requires a change in human nature, anarcho-capitalism is not utopian.
5. Isn't laissez-faire capitalism exploitative?
No. Laissez-faire literally means "let us be!" It means absolutely no government intervention in the economy - a free market.
Even in so-called "capitalist" States (really mixed economies), the government engages in all sorts of intervention: taxation, regulation, protectionism, prohibitions, occupational licensure, monopolies on "command posts" of society.