Anarchy, State And Utopia by Robert Nozick

The book is a seminal work in political philosophy that presents a libertarian view of a minimal state, arguing against the notion of an extensive state with distributive justice. It defends the idea that only a minimal state limited to the narrow functions of protection against force, theft, fraud, and enforcement of contracts is justified. The author challenges the concept of distributive justice and entitlement theory, positing that individuals have rights which cannot be violated by others and that the state's role should be confined to ensuring the protection of those rights. The book also explores the possibility of a utopian society, where individuals can freely form communities that reflect diverse visions of the good life, provided they respect the rights of others.

The 3280th greatest book of all time


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Total Points: 114

Since this book was first published in 1974, there is a penalty of 0%. The age adjusted score is 114.0.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.