La Grande Fiction: L’État, cet imposteur (Éditions Le Drapeau blanc, 13 Oct. 2016), a French translation of The Great Fiction, with a preface by Guido Hülsmann, a translation of the which (by Google; not yet revised) is below.
Preface
by Jörg Guido Hülsmann
The title of Hans-Hermann Hoppe ‘s book is obviously inspired of there famous definition of Frédéric Bastiat according to which “The State It’s the grand fiction through which everyone strives to live at everyone else’s expense.” This book was written by one of the most remarkable representatives of what is called the Austrian school (the two founders of this school of thought, Ludwig von Mises and Friedrich Hayek, were of Austrian origin). This book is essential reading. You will find in effect of a part the big pleasure that one can experience be confronted has of the ideas important expressed of a in an extremely rigorous And clear, on the other hand the interest of it to find keys to understanding some of the most important problems of our time. Reading this book proves that true economic science is not that which is formally sophisticated and difficult to access (like fashionable econometric models), but that which is based on essential principles, developed logically, and potentially very readable. Interestingly, this does not preclude taking into account, within this rigorous approach, phenomena whose definition may necessarily seem vague, such as culture and traditions (which a mathematical economist or an econometrician can never consider).
Hans-Hermann Hoppe does not adopt a utilitarian view of the problems that he treat And he born se satisfied not—contrary to has that make too much of authors—of describe some phenomena social. His approach is based on indisputable principles concerning the functioning of human societies, and he derives from them conclusions on of the problems crucial, by example the one of immigration. The proposals he makes are not mere personal assertions, but are based on logic and should therefore, as such, be considered essential. (For example, Hoppe points out that in case of conflicts between several people, on would consider as unacceptable for one of the parties in conflict to be appointed as arbitrator. Yet this is what is accepted with regard to the State . This concern for logic is reflected in particular by the fact that Hans-Hermann Hoppe ‘s work is based on an approach progressive : he part of a situation social Also simple as possible (by example that of Robinson Crusoe alone on his island (soon to be joined by Friday ) and he shows how evolution occurs of a Company. That the conduit has emphasize the importance of property rights, both from a moral and a legal point of view of view practical. And It is precisely in se referent It is through property rights that we can better understand these phenomena . social And the role—negative—what can to play the role of the State. The author underlines has just title that, Since two centuries approximately, we have Unfortunately separated ethics And the economy, of such so that there science economic ignore generally And has wrong the rights of property. So that he the written ” a definition And a theorization of concept of property must precede there definition And the shoring of any what statement or thesis economic ”
Hans-Hermann Hope emphasizes the importance of property through his insightful approach: imagining an initial situation where the state does not exist and describing the evolution of human societies with the gradual emergence of the state. Private property is the fundamental instrument for preventing conflict, and the author clearly demonstrates why a society based solely on property rights would exist. privates would work of manner peaceful And effective. He then demonstrates the harmful consequences of the appropriation of private spaces by public authorities, who use coercion to achieve this. But it is interesting to imagine a hypothetical world where the entire surface of the earth is privately owned (which would obviously not prevent individuals from forming various types of voluntary organizations , such as businesses and associations, that would own certain parts of the land). In this scenario, only the existence of a public domain would be excluded, such that all means of communication, for example, would belong to private owners who could charge for their use through various methods.
The action state, for its part, East has a priori questionable because it is based on a lack of understanding of property rights (as particularly illustrated by taxation, a levy by the constraint of rights of property). But he has none not had always been exactly the same and Hans-Hermann Hoppe makes some interesting historical observations on this subject, for example concerning the feudal world. He clearly emphasizes why, at the end of this historical evolution, democracy is a particular source of danger to property, as we can easily see.
Every property system is a system of exclusion; property only has meaning insofar as it allows one to exclude others from using it. Therefore, the principle of freedom of movement—which is a fundamental principle—is essential. – does not imply not that any who has the right to enter someone else’s property without their consent, but only that no authority can use force to prevent an individual from entering on someone else’s property, if there is a mutual agreement between him and the owner.
The problem of immigration resolves itself spontaneously in a world of private property, as owners are free to welcome or exclude those who wish to come to their land. However, when a state exists, it uses coercion to carry out forced exclusions or forced integrations that do not necessarily correspond to the wishes of the state ‘s citizens . This can lead to risks, namely the importation of unwanted ethnocultures by immigrants . It is impossible to summarize here all that Hans-Hermann Hoppe analyzes regarding immigration, but his reasoning provides an essential foundation for addressing this complex and important issue, which is the subject of ongoing debate in our time.
Hans-Hermann Hoppe rigorously analyzes other specific problems, such as those concerning money, democracy, war, and business. I can only reiterate my strong recommendation to everyone to read this remarkable work.
