How to Live and Let Live: The Non-Aggression Principle Explained

Many people do not follow one standard for their moral and political decisions but always have other rationales for their opinions inconsistent with prior explanations for similar topics. What if I can provide you a single powerful principle to guide your moral and political decisions? A rule that can help you live a good life, treat others well, and create a fair and peaceful society. A rule that can be easily understood and applied by anyone, regardless of their background, beliefs, or preferences.

This is not a fantastic notion; such a rule exits and constitutes one of the core concepts of libertarianism: the non-aggression principle (NAP). Based on the idea that every person has self-ownership, meaning that they own themselves and their actions, and that they have natural rights that cannot be violated by others, it states that no one has the right to institute violence.

Outline of the Non-Aggression Principle

The non-aggression principle is a moral and legal rule that forbids the initiation of physical force or fraud against another person or their property. It does not prohibit self-defense, retaliation, or restitution, as long as they are proportional to the original aggression.

Instead of being a complete ethical system, the non-aggression principle is a minimal standard of conduct that can be derived from various ethical theories, such as natural law, deontology, or consequentialism. With this basic ethic, it is compatible with different political philosophies, such as minarchism, anarchism, or classical liberalism.

The Fascinating History of a Timeless Idea

While the idea of self-ownership and natural rights appears in the world’s major religions and can be traced back to ancient philosophers, such as Laos, Aristotle, and Cicero, the term "non-aggression principle" was coined by the libertarian philosopher Ayn Rand. She argued that the only proper function of government is to protect the fundamental rights of its citizens, meaning to protect them from the initiation of force by others, and that any government that violates this principle is illegitimate and tyrannical.

The NAP was further developed and popularized by other libertarian thinkers, such as Murray Rothbard, David Friedman, and Hans-Hermann Hoppe. For one thing they applied it to various issues, such as taxation, war, crime, justice, immigration, education, and health care, for another thing they debated the implications and limitations of this standard, such as the definition of aggression, the justification of self-defense, the role of consent, and the resolution of conflicts.

Societal Impacts of Living Together Peacefully

Foundation of a peaceful and prosperous society is people respecting each other’s rights and cooperating voluntarily for mutual benefit. A precept for this, providing a clear and consistent criterion for judging the morality and legality of human actions, is provided by the non-aggression principle. Societies build on the NAP are characterized by the following elements.

Respect for human dignity and autonomy: Every person is a rational and moral agent, who has the right to control their own body and property, and to pursue their own happiness, as long as they don't infringe on the rights of others.

Prevention of violence and coercion: Use of physical force or fraud to harm, threaten, or manipulate others is prohibited. The power and scope of government, which is the biggest aggressor in history, is restricted to a minimum.

Promotion of cooperation and harmony: People interact peacefully and voluntarily, based on mutual respect and consent. They are free to have different preferences, beliefs, and lifestyles, as long as they don't impose them on others, fostering true diversity.

Creation of wealth and innovation: There is no justification to contravene the most basic element of economic freedom and market exchange, the right to private property. Hence, the creation and accumulation of capital, goods, and services, which improve the standard of living and well-being of everyone, is stimulated.

The Proposition of Respecting Yourself and Others Lived

You can use the non-aggression principle as a very simple guide for everyday life helping you make clear decisions, both personally and socially, that are consistent with your values and principles. To do this, you only have to follow two basic concepts.

Respect yourself and others: Treat your fellow human beings not as means to your own ends. Abstain from supporting any form of instigating aggression, neither conducted by an individuals nor the government. Refrain from lying, cheating, stealing, manipulating, and, with that, initiating or escalating conflicts.

Be responsible and accountable: Take responsibility for your own actions and their consequences, instead of blaming others for your own problems or mistakes. Don't depend on them for your happiness or fulfillment by expecting them to solve your problems or provide for your needs. Keep up to any obligations or duties that you have voluntarily agreed to.

Conclusion: A Simple but Powerful Rule

The non-aggression principle is a simple but powerful rule that can help you live a moral and peaceful life. It is derived from various ethical and political theories, based on the idea that every person has self-ownership. Hence, no one has the right to initiate force or fraud against another person or their property. To apply the NAP, you respect human dignity and autonomy, behave responsibly as well as accountably, and abstain from starting any violence or coercion. Through this, you foster cooperation as well as harmony, and incentivize wealth creation and innovation.

Think for yourself and question everything my fellow libertarians!