The Journal of Libertarian Studies

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Nozick's Failed Defense of the Just State

The Journal of Libertarian Studies

Tags Big GovernmentPhilosophy and MethodologyPolitical Theory

07/30/2014Eric Roark

In this paper, I argue that Nozick fails to adequately defend the claim that a just state would arise from a Lockean state of nature by a process which need not violate libertarian rights. In particular, I argue that the state-creating processes cited by Nozick are antithetical to the enforcement rights (those rights such as self-defense and the exacting of just restitution) of persons.

Volume 21, Number 1 (2007)

Author:

Eric Roark

Eric Roark is a doctoral candidate in the philosophy department at the University of Missouri-Columbia where he is also the research assistant to the Kline Chair in Philosophy.

Cite This Article

Roark, Eric. "Nozick's Failed Defense of the Just State." Journal of Libertarian Studies 21, No. 1 (2007): 5–39.