Benjamin Tucker
Benjamin Tucker
Benjamin Ricketson Tuckerwas a proponent, in the 19th century, of American individualist anarchism, which he called "unterrified Jeffersonianism," and editor and publisher of the individualist anarchist periodical Liberty...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionNovelist
Date of Birth17 April 1854
CityDartmout, MA
CountryUnited States of America
based capital human principle punishment seen society stated worst
I have also seen it stated that Capital punishment is murder in its worst form. I should like to know upon what principle of human society these assertions are based and justified.
american-activist defence effected initiation principle state though
Defence was an afterthought, prompted by necessity; and its introduction as a State function, though effected doubtless with a view to the strengthening of the State, was really and in principle the initiation of the State's destruction.
admitted allowed american-activist control individual larger liberty maintain matter state though
The right of such control is already admitted by the State Socialists, though they maintain that, as a matter of fact, the individual would be allowed a much larger liberty than he now enjoys.
american-activist borne claim history individual intimate life private relations state
The claim of the State Socialists, however, that this right would not be exercised in matters pertaining to the individual in the more intimate and private relations of his life is not borne out by the history of governments.
american-activist forbids human insist invaded life principle sacred society themselves valid whatever
I insist that there is nothing sacred in the life of an invader, and there is no valid principle of human society that forbids the invaded to protect themselves in whatever way they can.
affairs american-activist doctrine men voluntary
This brings us to Anarchism, which may be described as the doctrine that all the affairs of men should be managed by individuals or voluntary associations, and that the State should be abolished.
society
But this is not to say that the society which inflicts capital punishment commits murder.
socialism communism said
Capitalism is at least tolerable, which cannot be said of Socialism or Communism
government liberty purpose
Government is the assumption of authority over a given area and all within it, exercised generally for the double purpose of more complete oppression of its subjects and extension of its boundaries.
ignorance punishment may
And capital punishment, however ineffective it may be and through whatever ignorance it may be resorted to, is a strictly defensive act, - at least in theory.
men individual-choice choices
First, then, State Socialism, which may be described as the doctrine that all the affairs of men should be managed by the government, regardless of individual choice.
hate men love-and-hate
Commanded love of all men indiscriminately is an obliteration of distinction between love and hate, and therefore is not love at all.
kings wings leader
Almost the only persons who may be said to comprehend even approximately the significance, principles, and purposes of Socialism are the chief leaders of the extreme wings of the Socialistic forces, and perhaps a few of the money kings themselves.
acceptance errors lexicographer
The makers of dictionaries are dependent upon specialists for their definitions. A specialist's definition may be true or it may be erroneous. But its truth cannot be increased or its error diminished by its acceptance by the lexicographer. Each definition must stand on its own merits.