Robert Nozick  is a modern American Philosopher whose influential book, 'Anarchy, State and Utopia', was published in the 1970's.  Main points of Nozick's philosophical stance:

• Founds on the notion of inalienable human rights (following Locke and the Kantian idea that we must treat others as ends and never solely as means)

• Among human rights is the right to hold property justly acquired (by creation or transfer)

• The state can be justified justified only in so far as it is necessary to safeguard human life and liberty (i.e. rights). Justified powers of the state include defence and the protection of individual property, and not much else.

• It follows that taxation to fund more extended state functions is not justified.

• This line of reasoning is widely taken as favouring minimum taxation and maximum freedom for property holders

 

Videos:

Robert Nozick: Anarchy, State and Utopia (Then and Now, 15’00”) 

 

Nozick on Justice (14’48”)

 

The Minimal State (23’13).

(podcast)

 

What is Justice? (10’14”)

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