Mises Wire

On Pure Capitalism

A Theory of Socialism and Capitalism by Hans-Hermann Hoppe

"A social system based on this natural position regarding the assignment of property rights is, and will from now on be called, pure capitalist.  And since its ideas can be discerned as the dominating ideas of private law, i.e., of the norms regulating relations between private persons, it might also be termed a pure private law system....This system is based on the idea that to be non-aggressive, claims to property must be backed by the "objective" fact of an act of original appropriation, of previous ownership, or by a mutually beneficial contractual relationship.  This relationship can either be a deliberate cooperation between property owners or the deliberate transfer of property titles from one owner to another."

—Hans-Hermann Hoppe.  A Theory of Socialism and Capitalism

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