Robert Nozick

Question 1

when was he alive?

Answer 1

1938-2002
New Right conservative

Question 2

key work?

Answer 2

‘Anarchy, State, and Utopia’ (1974)

Question 3

whose themes did he develop?

Answer 3

Friedrich von Hayek in ‘The Road to Serfdom’ (1944)
argued the growth of govt. was the gravest threat to individual freedom

Question 4

what did he think welfare states in western Europe did?

Answer 4

foster a dependecy culture- e.g. council houses/NHS/benefits

Question 5

what else did he identify with?

Answer 5

libertarianism- ppl should be ‘left alone’ in economic, social, and cultural spheres (many on New Right would disagree with)
it is tolerant of a liberal ‘permissive society’

Question 6

quote about tax?

Answer 6

‘tax, for the most part, is theft’
ppl have self-ownership
ppl should be left alone to realise own talents without govt intervention.

Question 7

was he an anarchist?

Answer 7

no, he believed in a minarchist state- one that outsourced public services to private companies (e.g. Thatcher- public transport/railways/health/dental care)

Question 8

view of human nature?

Answer 8

optimistic
(less in common than conservatism than anarchism)

Question 9

why is he considered a conservative?

Answer 9

view of human nature not entirely positive
limited state

Question 10

ideas about society before state?

Answer 10

dishonesty, theft, and violence weren’t main characteristics
preservation of life, liberty and property ‘could not be taken for granted’ without a formal authority enforcing laws

Question 10

purpose of limited state?

Answer 10

not just to facilitate raw individualism + free market capitalism
would allow self-sufficient communities to emerge
communities would be free to practice own moral codes/values (even socialist or anti-Christian ones)