No initiatory force, fraud, or coercion

I believe no individual, group, or government may initiate force, threat of force, or fraud against any person or their property — and that force is justified only in defense against those who violate that rule, with no exceptions.

Confidence

High

What could disprove it

Show that routine initiatory force by governments or majorities produces more freedom, prosperity, and honest dealing than a strict non-aggression principle with defense only.

Current support

Initiatory force externalizes cost onto unwilling victims and destroys the basis for voluntary cooperation.

Defensive force answers aggression without licensing perpetual preemption.

Sample: Fraser EFW index — countries ranking highest on security of persons and property (Area 2) tend to rank highest overall on economic freedom.

Supporting resources

Studies, data, books, and references that help express and test this belief.

ReferenceStanford Encyclopedia — Libertarianism ↗

Survey of non-aggression principle and its role in libertarian political theory.

BookRobert Nozick — Anarchy, State, and Utopia (overview) ↗

Minimal state justified only from rights — initiatory force requires strict limits.