Against the NAP
The non-aggression principle (NAP) is the core of many libertarian social theories. In essence, it states that men should be free to enter to engage in any action or contract which does not violate the rights of others. On the surface, this may seem like a reasonable social principle, or at least a reasonable one at the theoretical level, even if it can’t be put into practice in reality. However, it has a fundamental flaw: it would permit, and in fact, discourage every form sexual harassment or technically “consensual” sexual assault. According to the NAP, an employer should have the right to demand sexual favors from his female employees (or male/non-binary ones for that matter.) The NAP principle is not merely silent on the issue of prostitution and contractual sexual harassment, but asserts that these things must be protected, as part of the right of contract, which flows from the right of self-ownership and the non-aggression principle. Not only should employers have the...