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Anarchy, State, and Utopia Paperback – November 12, 2013

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Robert Nozick (Author)
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Robert Nozick (Author)
4 out of 5 stars 62 customer reviews
#1 Best Sellerin Anarchism
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 400 pages
  • Publisher: Basic Books; Second Edition edition (November 12, 2013)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0465051006
  • ISBN-13: 978-0465051007
  • Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1 x 8.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,630 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsSetting the debate for 20th century political philosophy
By Eudaimonia on September 3, 2004
Format: Paperback
Rawls and Nozick were responsible for reinvigorating rights-based liberalism in the 20th century, saving political philosophy from mere in-fighting among utilitarians, and the superstitions of Marxism. Political philosophy since is largely a response to Rawls and Nozick.

This is a work of genius, though it is frequently misunderstood, perhaps on purpose. Most readers, including important philosophers like Thomas Nagel, simply misunderstand the argumentative structure, with the result that many famous criticisms of the book are irrelevant.

Nozick's thesis is that a minimal state can be justified, but a more than minimal state cannot, except under unusual situations.

Part I of the book is addressed to other libertarians, specifically market anarchists (also called anarcho-capitalists). As such, Nozick assumes libertarian rights of self-ownership (or self-governance). Basically, Nozick wants to show market anarchists that a minimal state can arise without violating anybody's rights, where the rights in question are things that all parties to the debate agree that we have. To do so, he describes a scenario in which security companies come inevitably to have natural monopolies over geographic areas. After providing a highly original analysis of the nature of risk and its moral implications, plus a hugely important discussion of side constraints and moral prohibitions, Nozick establishes that such a monopoly would legitimately prohibit other security firms and independent enforcers from operating in its area, provided it compensates everyone involved. The most natural form of compensation is free security. Nozick then argues that an equilibrium will occur in which the security of all can be provided for with an analogue of coercive taxation.Read more ›
2 Comments 106 of 113 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
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4.0 out of 5 starsIf you have any interest in pol. philosophy, this is a MUST
By L. Rodney Ford on June 6, 2001
Format: Paperback
If you have any interest in political philosophy at all, if you are worried about the erosion of individual liberty (and its companion, individual responsibility) in modern society, or (even) if you are a collectivist and actually promote government involvement in our individual lives for the "greater good" at the expense of some or all, you MUST read this book. It is a somewhat difficult book to digest, so others (political moderates or those apathetic with regard to political philosophy) need not even crack the cover.
If you find that you agree with the arguments and conclusions of Robert Nozick, you will be enriched with ammunition for debating political philosophy. If you DON'T agree and you believe that your disagreement is based upon sound philosophy, you will still be greatly rewarded - if for no other reason than you were required to expend some great effort to refute the presented material as you read it.
The major principles presented and defended by Mr. Nozick are as follows:
1) Anarchy is not tenable. 2) A "minimal state" or "nightwatchman state" that only protects the rights of its constituents is justified/legitimate. 3) any state beyond that "minimal state" is unjustified/illegitimate because it will inherently violate the rights of (at least) some of its constituents.
Beyond these major principles, Mr. Nozick also revisits the concept of Utopia in the last section of the text. I found this last section very enjoyable. Mr. Nozick's presentation of the concept of "Meta-Utopia" opened up whole new avenues of political thought for me.
I agree with the major principles of this work as I have stated them above; however, I found that I did not agree with everything presented.Read more ›
2 Comments 176 of 194 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
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5.0 out of 5 starsIt has done its job...brilliantly
By Dr. Lee D. Carlson HALL OF FAMEVINE VOICE on December 31, 2002
Format: Paperback
This book is one of the most unusual in the history of political philosophy, and perhaps one of most brilliant. The author's ideas are thought-provoking and highly original, and he asks the reader to consider arguments, rather than engaging in a "diatribe to convince" (my words here). The author creates a reading atmosphere of intellectual honesty, and this helps to soften the possible uneasiness that some readers might feel in encountering these kinds of arguments for the first time. Some may seem radical and unpalatable for readers of other political persuasions, but any reader who is open to new ideas should find the reading highly interesting. The political philosophy of libertarianism finds its best apology here, but the contents of the book, and the method of presentation will and has found application to other political philosophies, and to legal philosophy.
In the first chapter, the author asks the reader to consider what he calls the "state-of-nature theory". This (Lockean) notion, although archaic in the author's view, allows one to answer whether a state would have to be invented if it did not exist, this being a classical question in liberal political philosophy. The chapter is a detailed justification for pursuing the state-of-nature theory. He holds to the premise that one can only understand the political realm by explaining it in terms of the nonpolitical. He thus begins with the Lockean state of nature concept and uses it to build a justification for the state in the rest of the book.
Most of the discussion in part 1 of the book revolves around the "dominant protective association" in a given geographical area. The author then builds on this in an attempt to justify from a moral perspective "the minimal state".Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsNozick's Anarchy, State, and Utopia

A brief review cannot do justice to this book, but it could easily do it injustice. Here I can only raise a few of the many ideas worth examining. Read more

Published 2 months ago by Steven R. Bayne
4.0 out of 5 starsFour Stars

Great book but flighty - could use an editor.

Published 5 months ago by Sam Herring
5.0 out of 5 starsLucid, insightful, and funny!

Nozick explains in clear and insightful ways for a libertarian view that ennobles the individual, but at the same time maintaining an appropriate role for the state. Read more

Published 8 months ago by Kathleen A Baron
1.0 out of 5 starsTRASH, DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY on this PC BS

Some of the worst writing and nonsense I have attempted to try and read in awhile. Could not even get through it. Read more

Published 11 months ago by Verified Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

good

Published 11 months ago by Alexander
4.0 out of 5 starsAn Excellent and Novel Application of Lockean Natural Right's Theory

Robert Nozick's Anarchy State and Utopia attempts to provide three different arguments for two different conclusions. Read more

Published 11 months ago by txgsu43
5.0 out of 5 starsA Hard Read, but worth the effort.

A good friend and Philosophy Professor gave me this book to read. While he is more in the Rawls Camp, I fine Zozick to have pretty much set the standard for how I think the system... Read more

Published 12 months ago by Stephen W. McGregor
1.0 out of 5 starsLibertarian conclusions, no need for an argument

This book premises property rights and then proceeds to justify a minimal state. Before he even starts out then, a libertarian conclusion is pre-guaranteed. Read more

Published 12 months ago by On the same track with you
5.0 out of 5 starsWhat we all know is true, but do not necessarily know why.

Nozick's book is difficult to read, but it is worth the effort. One does not read AS&U from front to back. Read more

Published 12 months ago by David L. Kendall
4.0 out of 5 starsA classic

Nozick's work has long been regarded as a staple of political philosophy, and with good reason. His prose is engaging, and his logic compelling. Read more

Published 13 months ago by Darien Sumner

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