Conservative Thinkers - Robert Nozick

Question 1

Who was Robert nozick?

Answer 1

Nozick (1938-2002) was a right-wing libertarian thinker who is famous for writing “Anarchy, The State and Utopia”. He supported a minimal state which is a state with limited power over the actions of individuals

Question 2

What was Nozick view on libertarianism?

Answer 2

• Nozick opposed taxes, calling them “legalised theft” and therefore economic redistribution and social justice is theft of individual private property
• as a result, Nozick objected to the welfare state
• Nozick supported free-market capitalism and believed that the way goods are distributed in the free market is just
• Nozick disagreed with any policy that meant individuals in societies were used as a means to an end, rather than an end in themselves

Question 3

What is Nozick view on justice?

Answer 3

• Nozick disagreed with state interventions in order to redistribute resources in a more just way
• he believed that if the state has control over justice, resources would be given to groups that are important to win elections, such as the elderly
• this can be seen in decisions by government to protect old-age pensions, as a high percentage of retirees vote in elections

Question 4

What is Nozick’s view on self-ownership?

Answer 4

• individual sovereignty is an important part of nozick’s political philosophy
• Nozick considered the right of the individual for ownership over their won person to be a vital part of being human
• Nozick believed that if the state had control over individuals, individuals will be reduced to having to work for a common goal rather than individual self-determination
• instead, he believed that individuals should own their body and abilities