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What if everything you believe about the state is a lie?


Life is “nasty, brutish, and short,” asserted 17th-century philosopher Thomas Hobbes. Without the state, he claimed, man is “in that condition which is called War... every man, against every man.”


His solution? Leviathan: the sovereign power, the guard against chaos.


For centuries, most political philosophers have taken his argument for granted.


But should they?


In Deleting the State: Requiem for an Illusion, Aeon J. Skoble—professor of philosophy, bestselling author, and acclaimed political theorist—argues that the state as we understand it today is not only morally unjustifiable, but also, thankfully, unnecessary. It has only the power we mistakenly grant it.


What if we didn't?


Packed with urgent lessons, original insights, and unparalleled philosophical rigor, this book is essential reading for anyone who dares imagine a freer world.
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** Don’t miss this Independent Conversations virtual event! ([link removed])
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Author Aeon J. Skoble will discuss his new book with Independent Institute President Graham Walker. Together, Skoble and Walker will explore whether political authority is truly a necessary evil, how cooperation can emerge without centralized control, and what philosophical anarchism can teach us about building a freer society. The discussion will be rigorous yet accessible, appealing to scholars, students, policy thinkers, and intellectually curious readers alike!
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** Deleting the State
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** Requiem for an Illusion
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Aeon J. Skoble

"States are illegitimate, dangerous, and unnecessary. Aeon Skoble argues crisply and accessibly that we should reject these pointless and destructive institutions in favor of genuinely consensual alternatives."

—Gary Chartier, associate dean and distinguished professor of law and business ethics, Tom and Vi Zapara School of Business, La Sierra University


"From practical examples to theoretical insights, it's hard to imagine anyone coming away from Deleting the State with a complacent attitude about the justifiability of having a state."

—Douglas J. Den Uyl, author of Power, State, and Freedom: An Interpretation of Spinoza’s Political Philosophy


"Deleting the State is a well-argued and well-written treatment of the justifications for government. Skoble finds all forms of coercive government incompatible with liberty and provides arguments why peace, order, and respect for private property will be better achieved without government."

—Edward Stringham, editor of Anarchy, State, and Public Choice
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