Invisible-Hand, Lockean Provisos and Private Justice: Emergence and State's Legitimacy in Anarchy, State and Utopia

Abstract

This work analyses the argument provided by Nozick in support of the State's legitimacy. It will be held that, in fact, this argument deals with two different difficulties: a descriptive one (the harmless and unintended emergence of the State) and another de jure (the legitimacy of the State). The first one is resolved by Nozick via the invisible-hand explanation, and the second one via so-called principle of compensation. I will attempt to demonstrate that this principle is consistent with Locke's political philosophy and, therefore, with lockean libertarianism.