NINE: COERCION AND THE STATE
1 the Meaning of Coercion
Coercion is when one person's actions force another person to act in a way that serves the first person's interests instead of their own. It is different from situations where circumstances affect our choices because coercion involves a human trying to control another. Even though the coerced person still has to make a choice, their options are limited by the coercer, making them choose what feels less painful. Coercion includes the threat of harm and a desire to change how someone behaves. This limitation on choices stops people from using their intelligence fully and achieving their goals, leading to them contributing less to society since their actions are mainly driven by someone else’s plan.
2 Coercion and Power
Political philosophers often discuss power rather than coercion, as political power implies the ability to enforce one's will. However, the harmful aspect of power lies in coercion—the ability to force others to act against their will through threats. Power used for collective benefit is not corrupting. While power and coercion are connected, coercion is not always a necessary outcome of power. Moreover, terms like "force" and "violence" could better describe coercion, which can also occur in forms other than physical threats. Oppression refers to ongoing coercive actions.
3 Coercion and Monopoly
Coercion should be clearly distinguished from the conditions on which people offer services and benefits. In society, we rely on others for our needs, and in a free society, these exchanges are voluntary. Each person can choose to whom they provide services and under what terms. This applies to both social and economic interactions. For example, if someone imposes certain standards to receive an invitation, that is not coercion. Similarly, if a seller sets a high price for an item, it isn't coercive, especially in a competitive market where alternatives exist. True coercion might occur when a monopolist controls an essential resource, like water in an oasis, leaving others with no choice but to comply with the owner’s demands.
While employment can sometimes create a threat of coercion, such as during high unemployment periods, this is uncommon in a healthy, competitive environment. In fully socialist states, where the government is the sole employer, coercion can be absolute. Overall, unless a person withholds an essential supply, the act of withholding a benefit does not equate to coercion. Even under pressure to accept undesirable jobs, if there is no intent to control one’s actions, the situation is more like facing natural disasters than true coercion.
4 Degrees of Coercion
Coercion comes in different levels, from extreme situations like slavery and tyranny, where punishment forces complete obedience, to less severe threats that may not involve violence. How effective coercion is often depends on the person's inner strength; some people might be easily influenced by a serious threat, while others might resist smaller annoyances. Close relationships can also lead to coercion, making life hard unless each person has the choice to leave the relationship. It’s important to understand coercion because if we define it too broadly, it loses its meaning. Although we can't get rid of all types of coercion, society should work to prevent severe forms and see liberty as the absence of major coercive forces.
5 Coercion and the Assured Free Sphere
Coercion is when one person controls another's actions. To prevent coercion, individuals need a private space where they are safe from outside interference. This protection can only be guaranteed by a powerful authority. The idea of coercion relates to the interference with people's legitimate expectations or rights, which arise from recognizing these protected spaces. If these personal spheres are determined by someone else, it just shifts the coercion. Individuals should have a say in what is included in their own private sphere, and general rules help define these areas. These spheres protect not just material possessions but also various rights and freedoms from interference.
6 Property and the Protection Against Coercion
Property is important for protecting people from coercion because it gives them control over material objects and helps create a private space. When people have some control over property, they can plan and work with others more easily. In today's society, it is less about owning property and more about making sure that no one person controls all the resources, which allows individuals to feel free even if they own very little. Contracts are also important because they help people work together and support each other without depending too much on specific individuals. When property is spread out and competition exists, it limits how much power any one person can have over others. Public services, like roads and sanitation, are also crucial because they provide essential access for everyone. Overall, having a clear private sphere, including the right to privacy, is vital for individual freedom in modern society.
7 Enforcement of General Rules Minimizes Coercion
General rules are created to limit coercion from individuals and the state. These rules aim to make the coercive power of the state less harmful, mainly by focusing on avoidable threats rather than actual coercion. In a free society, laws typically prevent individuals from harmful actions rather than forcing them to act in specific ways. If people understand the consequences of their choices and can avoid situations leading to coercion, the threat of coercion becomes similar to natural obstacles, guiding their decisions rather than controlling them.
8 Unavoidable Coercion
The state uses coercion in certain situations, like taxation and military service, which are predictable and necessary. This allows individuals to plan their lives while understanding these responsibilities, making the coercion less disturbing. However, coercion becomes more concerning when it is unpredictable and not avoidable. In a free society, methods like drawing lots are used to decide who must serve in roles like jury duty, preventing any one person from having arbitrary power over others and making such coercion feel more fair.
9 the Justification of Coercion
The main idea is that while preventing coercion is a strong reason for the state to use threats of coercion, it isn't the only one. Coercion covers all forms of violence, and we also want to prevent fraud and deception, which manipulate individuals to serve someone else's interests. Both coercion and deception hinder personal freedom and rational decision-making. Essentially, freedom requires the prevention of coercion and fraud, allowing only government use of coercion to enforce rules that help individuals act in a coherent way.
The limits of government coercion differ from its functions. Governments also provide services, often funded by coercive means, but it’s debated whether forcing people to contribute to unwanted services is morally right. Many believe it’s acceptable to contribute, expecting that others will reciprocate. Outside taxation, government should ideally only use coercion to prevent worse coercion.
The debate over the private sphere of immunity from coercion often fails because nearly all actions can potentially affect others. It's vital to define this protected sphere by what actions interfere with reasonable expectations. Mere discomfort from others' actions doesn’t justify coercion. The freedom to pursue new possibilities and individual conduct that doesn’t harm others should remain unregulated by the state to maintain a free society.
10 Coercion and Moral Pressure
In a free society, private behavior is not usually controlled by the state, but it can still be influenced by society’s opinions. Moral coercion, which is the pressure from public approval or disapproval, plays a significant role in enforcing social norms. This type of pressure is different from state coercion, which is more severe and can limit an individual's freedom. Moral rules and conventions, although not as strict as laws, help guide behavior and create a stable social environment. While individuals may sometimes go against these social rules, such behavior is generally limited to important situations. Overall, these norms provide structure that supports individual efforts while maintaining a degree of personal liberty.
1 the Meaning of Coercion
Coercion is when one person's actions force another person to act in a way that serves the first person's interests instead of their own. It is different from situations where circumstances affect our choices because coercion involves a human trying to control another. Even though the coerced person still has to make a choice, their options are limited by the coercer, making them choose what feels less painful. Coercion includes the threat of harm and a desire to change how someone behaves. This limitation on choices stops people from using their intelligence fully and achieving their goals, leading to them contributing less to society since their actions are mainly driven by someone else’s plan.
2 Coercion and Power
Political philosophers often discuss power rather than coercion, as political power implies the ability to enforce one's will. However, the harmful aspect of power lies in coercion—the ability to force others to act against their will through threats. Power used for collective benefit is not corrupting. While power and coercion are connected, coercion is not always a necessary outcome of power. Moreover, terms like "force" and "violence" could better describe coercion, which can also occur in forms other than physical threats. Oppression refers to ongoing coercive actions.
3 Coercion and Monopoly
Coercion should be clearly distinguished from the conditions on which people offer services and benefits. In society, we rely on others for our needs, and in a free society, these exchanges are voluntary. Each person can choose to whom they provide services and under what terms. This applies to both social and economic interactions. For example, if someone imposes certain standards to receive an invitation, that is not coercion. Similarly, if a seller sets a high price for an item, it isn't coercive, especially in a competitive market where alternatives exist. True coercion might occur when a monopolist controls an essential resource, like water in an oasis, leaving others with no choice but to comply with the owner’s demands.
While employment can sometimes create a threat of coercion, such as during high unemployment periods, this is uncommon in a healthy, competitive environment. In fully socialist states, where the government is the sole employer, coercion can be absolute. Overall, unless a person withholds an essential supply, the act of withholding a benefit does not equate to coercion. Even under pressure to accept undesirable jobs, if there is no intent to control one’s actions, the situation is more like facing natural disasters than true coercion.
4 Degrees of Coercion
Coercion comes in different levels, from extreme situations like slavery and tyranny, where punishment forces complete obedience, to less severe threats that may not involve violence. How effective coercion is often depends on the person's inner strength; some people might be easily influenced by a serious threat, while others might resist smaller annoyances. Close relationships can also lead to coercion, making life hard unless each person has the choice to leave the relationship. It’s important to understand coercion because if we define it too broadly, it loses its meaning. Although we can't get rid of all types of coercion, society should work to prevent severe forms and see liberty as the absence of major coercive forces.
5 Coercion and the Assured Free Sphere
Coercion is when one person controls another's actions. To prevent coercion, individuals need a private space where they are safe from outside interference. This protection can only be guaranteed by a powerful authority. The idea of coercion relates to the interference with people's legitimate expectations or rights, which arise from recognizing these protected spaces. If these personal spheres are determined by someone else, it just shifts the coercion. Individuals should have a say in what is included in their own private sphere, and general rules help define these areas. These spheres protect not just material possessions but also various rights and freedoms from interference.
6 Property and the Protection Against Coercion
Property is important for protecting people from coercion because it gives them control over material objects and helps create a private space. When people have some control over property, they can plan and work with others more easily. In today's society, it is less about owning property and more about making sure that no one person controls all the resources, which allows individuals to feel free even if they own very little. Contracts are also important because they help people work together and support each other without depending too much on specific individuals. When property is spread out and competition exists, it limits how much power any one person can have over others. Public services, like roads and sanitation, are also crucial because they provide essential access for everyone. Overall, having a clear private sphere, including the right to privacy, is vital for individual freedom in modern society.
7 Enforcement of General Rules Minimizes Coercion
General rules are created to limit coercion from individuals and the state. These rules aim to make the coercive power of the state less harmful, mainly by focusing on avoidable threats rather than actual coercion. In a free society, laws typically prevent individuals from harmful actions rather than forcing them to act in specific ways. If people understand the consequences of their choices and can avoid situations leading to coercion, the threat of coercion becomes similar to natural obstacles, guiding their decisions rather than controlling them.
8 Unavoidable Coercion
The state uses coercion in certain situations, like taxation and military service, which are predictable and necessary. This allows individuals to plan their lives while understanding these responsibilities, making the coercion less disturbing. However, coercion becomes more concerning when it is unpredictable and not avoidable. In a free society, methods like drawing lots are used to decide who must serve in roles like jury duty, preventing any one person from having arbitrary power over others and making such coercion feel more fair.
9 the Justification of Coercion
The main idea is that while preventing coercion is a strong reason for the state to use threats of coercion, it isn't the only one. Coercion covers all forms of violence, and we also want to prevent fraud and deception, which manipulate individuals to serve someone else's interests. Both coercion and deception hinder personal freedom and rational decision-making. Essentially, freedom requires the prevention of coercion and fraud, allowing only government use of coercion to enforce rules that help individuals act in a coherent way.
The limits of government coercion differ from its functions. Governments also provide services, often funded by coercive means, but it’s debated whether forcing people to contribute to unwanted services is morally right. Many believe it’s acceptable to contribute, expecting that others will reciprocate. Outside taxation, government should ideally only use coercion to prevent worse coercion.
The debate over the private sphere of immunity from coercion often fails because nearly all actions can potentially affect others. It's vital to define this protected sphere by what actions interfere with reasonable expectations. Mere discomfort from others' actions doesn’t justify coercion. The freedom to pursue new possibilities and individual conduct that doesn’t harm others should remain unregulated by the state to maintain a free society.
10 Coercion and Moral Pressure
In a free society, private behavior is not usually controlled by the state, but it can still be influenced by society’s opinions. Moral coercion, which is the pressure from public approval or disapproval, plays a significant role in enforcing social norms. This type of pressure is different from state coercion, which is more severe and can limit an individual's freedom. Moral rules and conventions, although not as strict as laws, help guide behavior and create a stable social environment. While individuals may sometimes go against these social rules, such behavior is generally limited to important situations. Overall, these norms provide structure that supports individual efforts while maintaining a degree of personal liberty.