The Negative Homesteading Theory: Rejoinder to Walter Block on Human Body Shields

According to the negative homesteading theory, one can come to own misery—a state of being, or about to be, attacked—which one cannot legitimately pass on to someone else, without his permission. Should one however try to forward this misery onto someone else, this person has the right to defend himself from the “forwarding of misery.” One has, however, not the right to initiate force against someone who only “holds” misery or has just been relieved of one’s misery.

Volume 22, Number 1 (2010)