Ethical Principles of Pluralistic Anarcho-Capitalism
Their roots go back to the Enlightenment, Roman Stoicism, China’s Laozi, and biblical times
The ethics of pluralistic anarcho-capitalism contain the following principles:
Maturity (speaking for oneself)
Responsibility (accountability for one’s action)
Respect (for oneself and the rights of others)
Basic rules
Maturity means having the courage to step out of self-inflicted immaturity through the use of one's own mind. (The "Sapere aude" of Immanuel Kant).
The principle of responsibility states to be in charge of oneself and to provide for one's livelihood as comprehensively as possible. Taken at its core, this principle requires taking care of oneself as much as it is possible and rejecting as much as possible dependence on help from other people - be it for physical needs or ideas.
As the saying goes: “Help yourself, and God will help you”. Only when you can’t help yourself, even with the greatest effort and with the best will in the world, may you ask others for support. You should make your contribution to social cooperation as best you can. To put it bluntly: Don't be a parasite but cooperate and contribute.
The principle of respect refers to the attitude that must be taken towards other people in terms of their role as individuals in society. Respect the dignity of the human being and his property, in the same way, as you demand respect for yours. Treat other people as you would like to be treated.
Ethics are rules of societal coexistence of individuals. Ethical rules refer to how to work and live together. Being part of a society - instead of only for oneself - obliges the individual to accept a set of behavioral sanctions.
The state is the greatest enemy of ethics. State and politics embody evil. They are morally bad.
Who drives the warmongering if not the state? Who teaches hating the supposed enemy if not the state? Who is allowed to rob legally if not the state? For whom is lying a matter of fact, if not the state? Who fuels envy in society if not the state? Who is undermining property rights to the hilt if not the state?
It is the state that breaks the rules and ignores ethics. Those who have power are allowed to murder, steal, and plunder. Those who hold the power of domination want to keep their subjects in immaturity. Governments do not want self-reliance, but dependence. The power holders do not want their subjects to possess individual strength of their subjects, but their obedience.
The overarching principle of ethics for pluralist anarcho-capitalism is the "golden rule": "Treat others as you would like them to treat you" and, in the version of the "silver rule": "Do not do to others what you do not want to be done to you".
This basic rule and its manifestation through the three basic principles of maturity, responsibility, and respect could be found in the Judeo-Christian commandments as well as in the laws of karma. As a personal way of life, the doctrine of the Stoics fits best with pluralistic anarcho-capitalism.
From the point of view of anarcho-capitalism, it is clear that society thrives best when its members follow the basic rules of Judeo-Christian, Buddhist, and Stoicism. The presented rules of ethics are followed by the vast majority of people. Criminals are a social minority. So what's the problem, you might ask. The answer is obvious: it is the rule of the state and politics that break these rules and that seduce and force individuals to act unethically on their part.
The state claims to protect society against criminals, fraudsters, and foreign enemies. Yet the state itself is the greatest criminal, liar, deceiver, and an enemy of its own citizens.
Judeo-Christian ethics demand humanity, charity, righteousness, and reliability along with respect for one's parents and ancestors.
Among the great teachings of ethics, Confucianism is the exception, as it explicitly demands loyal submission to the government. With this position, however, Confucianism stands in contrast to the Daoism of Laozi, the other great Chinese ethical teacher.
As a doctrine of governance, Daoism calls for laissez-faire.
As Laozi explained, people become poorer when there is too much government. A dominant government is a source of confusion for the people. The more the state promulgates laws and regulations, the higher the number of deceivers, thieves, and other trespassers and criminals.
The oldest expression of the principle of Pluralistic Anarcho-Capitalism can be found in the works of Laozi when he writes:
"If the government does nothing, the people will carry out the reforms on their own. If the state remains silent, the people will raise themselves. If the state is free from zeal, people will naturally return to the simplicity of the good life."