Non-aggression principle

Not to be confused with non-aggression pact.

The non-aggression principle (NAP) is a concept in which "aggression" – defined as initiating or threatening any forceful interference with an individual, their property or their agreements (contracts) – is illegitimate and should be prohibited. Interpretations of the NAP vary, particularly concerning issues like intellectual property, force, and abortion.

Like the Golden Rule, the Non-Aggression Principle follows an ethics of reciprocity, in the sense that whether a person's action is permissible, depends upon the preceding actions of others.

The non-aggression principle is considered by some to be a, or even the, defining principle of libertarianism. It is a common principle among libertarians of both minarchist and anarchist beliefs.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.