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> there is no reason to believe economies of scale exist for protective agencies Seriously? There is a huge advantage to being the biggest, baddest agency. If
by rqebmm 11y ago
> there is no reason to believe economies of scale exist for protective agencies
Seriously? There is a huge advantage to being the biggest, baddest agency. If you're substantially larger than the competition you just go to them and say "hi there, give me all your stuff or we kill all of you and your clients".
> It is unlikely that the agencies will fight with one another, as they have strong disincentives
You're completely leaving out the incredibly strong incentive of "Give me your stuff or I kill you". It's infinite profit!
There are two ways history has proven to prevent "Hobbesian War" as he calls it: One incredibly powerful military hegemony, or a delicate balance of multiple exactly equally powerful military hegemonies. Anytime neither of those exist in an area, you get war because it's a lot easier to take someone else's stuff than it is to make your own. To think otherwise is hilariously naiive.
- nickff 11y agoI will not be able to address your arguments one-by-one without rewriting chapters of Huemer's book. I would recommend that you or anyone else interested in these points read the book and/or the numerous discussions he has had online with other academics. It will be very difficult for you to come up with off-the-cuff arguments which will best a book written by an experienced philosopher over more than a year, and you are unlikely to win over anyone who agrees with Huemer in this forum for exactly that reason. If you wish to discredit him, I suggest you find an academic who has written a thoughtful critique of "The Problem of Political Authority", or that you write a book or paper on its flaws. Anything short of that is most likely to be self-satisfying but ineffective rhetoric.