EconVerse

BooksAndArticles

Learn the story of how a Harvard-educated socialist tried to debunk libertarianism and became one of its strongest defenders.

Most people think freedom needs to be justified.

Robert Nozick has turned the tables: power must be justified!

![](https://m.stacker.news/107736)  


In the 1960s, Nozick was everything the academic world admired:

- Columbia graduate
- Harvard professor
- A staunch socialist

He believed in redistribution, social justice, and the state.

Until a question stuck in his mind:

What if libertarians weren't just selfish, but right?

![](https://m.stacker.news/107737)


He didn't grow up libertarian.

He didn't read Rand. He didn't read Mises.

But unlike many of his peers, Nozick didn't want to win arguments with slogans.

He wanted to understand his opponents and defeat them.

So he began reading libertarian thinkers.

And his reading wasn't what he expected.

![](https://m.stacker.news/107738)


In 1974, Nozick published Anarchy, State, and Utopia.

This shook political philosophy.

John Rawls had just published "A Theory of Justice," arguing for distributive equality.

Nozick responded:

You don't need to justify liberty. You need to justify coercion.


Nozick's central idea was simple:

"Individuals have rights, and there are things that no person or group can do to them without violating those rights."

Rights are not granted by governments.

They are not up for a vote.

They exist before politics.


What kind of state survives this test?

Perhaps a small, very small one.

Nozick envisioned competing private protection agencies.

Eventually, one might dominate... not by force, but by service.

That could be a state.

But only if it didn't violate anyone's rights.


In Nozick's view, the state is a service provider, not a ruler.

It can't force you in. It can't prevent you from leaving.

And it has no special moral status.

It exists to protect you. And only with your consent.


Why did he oppose redistribution?

Because it uses people.

If you can't force your neighbor to clean their house "for the greater good,"

Why can the state force them to give up their work or income?

Nozick's answer: It can't. Not morally.

![](https://m.stacker.news/107739)



In the 1980s, Nozick began writing about other topics: ethics, metaphysics, and knowledge.

Critics claimed he had "outgrown" libertarianism.

But in his final interview, Nozick refuted this myth.

He reaffirmed his core view: Only minimal obligations justify coercion.

And freedom best defines these limits.



You don't have to agree with everything Nozick wrote.

But if you believe in power, now you have to answer his question:

What gives you the right to use another person without their consent?

Most political theories don't even try.

Harvard socialist tries to refute libertarianism and becomes it biggest defender

Stacker_Stocks

Company decides to be the first to create a Strategic Reserve in Ethereum.

Less than a month later, participants in the private offering come together to dump the paper without mercy.

The stock plummeted -67% just at today's close.

![](https://m.stacker.news/96327)

The New Era of Strategic Dumps

econ

The ADP jobs report came in much lower than expected: only 37,000 jobs were created, compared to an estimate of 111,000. There is no recent record of such a weak figure. Even with possible changes in the survey methodology, this result surprised everyone. Will Friday's payroll follow the same direction?

![](https://m.stacker.news/94845)

![](https://m.stacker.news/94846)

ADP Disappoints: Employment Data Plunges Ahead of Payroll

Why don’t politicians treat this as an emergency? Adding $12 trillion to the national debt in just four years was one of the greatest acts of irresponsibility in recent times. And the worst part: the spending and benefits created during this period are unlikely to be meaningfully rolled back.

![](https://m.stacker.news/94844)

https://x.com/TheRabbitHole84/status/1930320986253209703

The Debt Explosion: The Great Irresponsibility of Recent Years

Trump accuses China of “completely violating the agreement with us.”

![](https://m.stacker.news/94083)

Just two weeks after the US-China trade deal, tensions are already resurfacing.

“Free Starbucks for a month or one whole Bitcoin?”

Emerging markets are currently the only market with valuations below the historical average, says BofA.

While the US is trading at stretched multiples, capital flows could shift to underpriced assets, especially in Asia and Latin America.

![](https://m.stacker.news/92217)

Emerging Markets Are the Only Ones with Below-Average Valuations, Says BofA

The Opening Gap of S&P500 Futures

''I am pleased to announce that tomorrow morning at the White House at 9:00 AM, I will sign one of the most important Executive Orders in the history of our Country. Prescription drug and pharmaceutical prices will be REDUCED, almost immediately, by 30% to 80%. They will increase worldwide to equalize and, for the first time in many years, bring FAIRNESS TO AMERICA! I will institute a MOST FAVORITE NATION POLICY whereby the United States will pay the same price as the nation paying the lowest price anywhere in the world.''

![](https://m.stacker.news/91337)

Announcement is out!

![](https://m.stacker.news/91276)


https://x.com/Barchart/status/1921089433706635673

Buybacks sustain this bull market—without them, stocks would drop more.

Earnings per Share (EPS) - Non-GAAP:
👉 $0.27 per share
❌ Missed estimates by $0.15 (expected ~$0.42)

Revenue:
👉 $19.34 billion
❌ Missed expectations by $2.07 billion (~$21.41 billion)

![](https://m.stacker.news/88404)

Tesla ($TSLA) Financial Results

Odds he's out this year fall to 14%

![](https://m.stacker.news/88403)

https://x.com/Kalshi/status/1914793909156286957

Trump says he has no intention of firing Powell

Gold in euro terms.. ATH

Macro catalysts this week

Something you never see at market bottoms: retail investors piling into leveraged long ETFs.

![](https://m.stacker.news/87929)



Why Leveraged ETFs Don’t Attract Retailers in the Worst Times

JPow will speak right after the GDP preview and the 20-year bond auction. This is no coincidence.

![](https://m.stacker.news/87394)

JPow will speak... but only after the show!

As usual, someone already knew that NVIDIA would announce the financial impact of restrictions on chip export licenses. And of course, they bought puts that should yield a nice profit tomorrow.

![](https://m.stacker.news/87354)


https://x.com/KobeissiLetter/status/1912274045887783040

Guaranteed profit with NVIDIA puts?

$NVDA closed Friday 28% above the week's low

The Michigan data came in terribly: high inflation expectations and a negative outlook for the economy going forward.

![](https://m.stacker.news/86714)

Michigan Sentiment Tanks: Inflation Fears Grow

![](https://m.stacker.news/86544)

https://x.com/WatcherGuru/status/1910148120228343829

🇨🇳 Chinese yuan falls to lowest level in 18 years.

https://x.com/KobeissiLetter/status/1910060749700882749