The Cross Section - RMB Blog

  The Ethics Of Liberty by Murray Rothbard The fundamental principle for this subject is that only theft or inherent theft should be punished by contract law.  If no one violates the property rights of another, i.e. no theft, then no court should prosecute a dispute between individuals.  For there to be theft there must be a prior transfer of a title to property.  That property can be money, capital goods, consumer goods, or even labor.  A promise to transfer title or property in the future does not constitute a title transfer.  The distinction sounds small but it makes a huge difference in how we should think about the situation.  Rothbard calls his approach the title-transfer model.   The example of a simple loan illustrates the basics of the title-transfer model.  In such a case, Party A lends $100 to Party B with an agreement that Party B will pay Party A $105 in a month.  Both Parties sign a contract committing to these action...

  The Ethics Of Liberty by Murray Rothbard Rothbard continues to analyze individual rights as property rights in order to explain what rights truly exist.  In this chapter he applies that framework to knowledge.  This isn't as straightforward as dealing with things that are basic physical property because even though knowledge, thoughts, lies, and slander are not physical things, they can still have physical consequences. He starts by analyzing the situation when someone lies about another person.  Does Smith have the right to lie about Jones?  Looking strictly at property gives a clear answer.  Smith owns his own mind, his mouth, and a smartphone.  Therefore he has the right to use his own property to lie.  He can speak, send out a letter, announce over a radio station he owns, etc.  Smith has done something immoral but his action should not illegal.  In general, it is legal to lie in our day and time, so Rothbard isn't saying anything...

  The Ethics Of Liberty by Murray Rothbard                  "human rights, when not put in terms of property rights, turn out to                 be vague and contradictory, causing liberals to weaken those rights                 on behalf of 'public policy' or the 'public good.' " I expect you have heard a variety of criticisms anytime you have spoken up for freedom or individual rights.  Those criticisms usually consist of claims that no rights are absolute.  One common example is you don't have the right to swing your fists in the space taken up by someone else's face.  Or they claim you should give up some of your own rights so that others will feel free to do what they want.  I call this the, "if I want to go to a concert then everyone else there must wear a mask so I won't get a respiratory vir...

  I have to admit up front, this chapter contains my biggest disagreement with Rothbard so far.  In "Children And Rights", he starts with discussing the rights of parents to abort and neglect their children before partially redeeming himself by focusing his searchlight back onto government's aggression against children and parents. He starts the chapter describing his philosophy on abortion.  I disagree out of the gate.  Uncharacteristically he provides no logical or natural law basis for his foundation.  Instead, he throws out an assertion and starts applying his normal deduction atop this faulty starting point.                 "[with] birth as the beginning of a live human being possessing natural rights...                     While birth is indeed the proper line of demarcation, the usual formation makes           ...

I had the opportunity this morning to introduce the subject of supplication during a prayer and worship service at church.  We prayed in four sections centered on the acronym A-C-T-S:  adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication.  It helps focus peoples thoughts on what to pray about and makes sure that different aspects of prayer are included. I briefly discussed two passages of scripture to explain what supplication is and how to apply it.  Here is what I said: In the last section we will pray through the 'S' in ACTS.  The 'S' stands for Supplication, which means to make requests or ask for things you need.  Let's prepare our minds for supplication by listening to a few verses.  The first one is from Philippians. Philippians 4 4  Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5  Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with t...

  The Ethics Of Liberty by Murray Rothbard Rothbard continues to deduce how to make a free and just society.  In this section he explains how justice systems in the modern state have been turned upside down and how to set them right side up again.  It all revolves around the saying "let the punishment fit the crime."  The important question is what punishment actually does fit. He starts by setting up three guard rails.  The first being the idea that a criminal loses his rights to the extent and in the way he has violated the rights of another person.  The second is a continuation of the first. Punishment must be proportional.  A maximum limit must be put on that criminal's punishment, which is up to an equal degree of his crime.  It is not an average or a floor but a ceiling.  The third is that the victim or plaintiff doesn't have to exact the maximum penalty.  He can require a portion of it or no punishment at all.  No law or pol...

  The Ethics Of Liberty by Murray Rothbard Natural rights, ownership, and criminality have all been defined and analyzed.  Now Rothbard focuses his attention on the topic of self defense.  He explains its justification and its proper boundaries.  You will see that his analysis from 40 years ago gives you a clear understanding regarding many things being discussed today. Previously in the book, Rothbard explained why individuals have a right to their own life, liberty, and property.  Now, he covers the ethical responses when someone tries to violate those rights.                 "If every man has the absolute right to his justly-held property,  it then follows                     that he as the right to keep that property- to defend  it by violence against                    ...