tion in U.S. history) rather than face impeachment.
Nixon and Watergate became synonymous with cor-
ruptionin American political and social life, so that
even later scandals had the word gateattached to them
(Post-Office-gate; Bill Clinton’s “Bimbo-gate,” etc.).
Nozick, Robert (1938– ) U.S. political phi-
losopher, libertarian
Best known for his popular book Anarchy, State and
Utopia(1974), which presents a classic contemporary
LIBERTARIAN theory, Nozick provides a philosophical
argument for CONSERVATIVE, LAISSEZ-FAIRE, REPUBLICAN
PARTY IDEOLOGY. His emphasis on INDIVIDUALISM, free-
market CAPITALISM, low taxes and government regula-
tions, and private FREEDOMmake him a favorite among
business interests. President Ronald REAGAN’s policies
reflected some of Nozick’s ideals.
Nozick begins with ordinary LIBERAL assumptions
about HUMAN NATURE, drawn from John LOCKE’s NATU-
RAL-RIGHTS philosophy. Individuals “have rights” by
nature that no government can legitimately take away
(life, liberty, and PROPERTY). This view leads to Nozick’s
theory of the minimalist state, which protects individ-
ual rights (through the police and judicial system) but
otherwise leaves people alone to take care of them-
selves through private contracts. Most of life’s activities
(family, education, health care, housing, etc.) should
be taken care of in the private economy, not by the
government. Nozick is particularly adamant about the
state not doing two things: (1) forcing some people
(the wealthy) to help other people (the poor) through
legal taxation and redistribution of property; and (2)
having legal prohibitions on activities that only endan-
ger those engaged in them (such as illegal drug use
and prostitution)—so-called victimless crimes. These
objections to the WELFARE STATE (with widespread
social programs for the needy) and the moral govern-
ment (with laws against sinful activities) show the
ANARCHISTbent of Nozick’s thought.
For him, the ideal society would leave people free
to fend for themselves, sell their talents on the open
marketplace, make private contracts with others, keep
most of their income, and live with the consequences
of their decisions. Everyone will function best in this
environment, and the society will prosper. Like earlier
SOCIAL DARWINISM, Nozick’s libertarianism leaves the
poor, disabled, and helpless to their own devices and
any private charity they can get. In his famous “Wilt
Chamberlain example,” Nozick shows how money
earned by one’s sale of talent or goods is personal
property that only unjustly is taxed to give to others
more needy. This contrasts with John RAWLS’s theory of
justice, which places one’s talents within social obliga-
tion.
But Nozick, who teaches philosophy at Harvard
University, claims this utopia of a minimalist state
allows for private charity and even SOCIALISM(in pri-
vate organizations). He envisions a “smorgasbord” (or
“food bar”) of societies in the perfect country (some
COMMUNIST, some religious, some laissez-faire, etc.),
where each individual may choose the best one for
them. Such relativistic anarchy ignores the unity of
society for critics of Nozick, and the need for some
shared values to prevent chaos and destruction. But
besides the appeal of Nozick’s theories to wealthy busi-
nesspeople, they provide a certain prophetic voice of
contemporary America, which, through cable, televi-
sion, private schools, and the Internet, increasingly has
become a society of separate, isolated communities
and alienated individuals.222 Nozick, Robert