Autarchism
political philosophy that promotes the principles of individualism, the moral ideology of individual liberty and self-reliance
Autarchism is a political ideology that promotes the principles of individualism, self-rule and private property. It rejects political government as an institution, supports private property absolutism and laissez-faire private capitalism.
Autarchy Versus Anarchy
In Autarchy Versus Anarchy Robert LeFevre discussed why he rejects being an anarchist, while also opposing political institution of government. In LeFevre's view anarchists, even the most individualist ones like Benjamin Tucker, who "take a position similar to... [his] in respect to the evils of state controls imposed upon the creativity and productivity of the individual", defeat themselves by rejecting laissez-faire market capitalism and absolute property rights. He also noted that the word anarchy derives from Ancient Greek, being negation of -archy meaning rule or ruling, and means without rule, and given his belief that everyone is ruled by someone or something, it makes him consider anarchy in the literal sense both an impossible and undesirable ideal.
At the end of the text LeFevre conveys his opinion that "autarchy is contrary in major respects to anarchy", "anarchy is a branch of socialism, whereas autarchy is not" and said he loathed anarchist views on "morality, wealth, money, profits, rents, interest, land ownership, or a voluntary organization as inimical to freedom".
Overview
Robert LeFevre, recognized as a pacifist individualist anarchist and an anarcho-capitalist by Murray Rothbard, distinguished autarchism from anarchism, mainly because it's economics contradicted his belief in laissez-faire private capitalism, and property absolutism. He situated the fundamental premise of autarchy within the philosophers such as Marcus Aurelius and Epicurus, which he summarized in the credo "Control yourself".
The main disagreement between LeFevre's autarchism and Murray Rothbard's anarcho-capitalism was in former's condemnation of aggression against person or their property, no matter the circumstances, be it in self-defense against an aggressor, retaliation, or even stealing-back stolen property from the thief.
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