State action is justified for goods individuals cannot secure privately but states can

Evidence

Although friendship is something that all of us pursue and value, we probably think that most of us can pursue it fairly effectively for ourselves and that the state is unlikely to do better. If republicans take a different view of freedom, that is because it contrasts in these respects with friendship. It is also a good that most of us pursue and value, as we have just been arguing. But unlike friendship it satisfies two crucial conditions, one negative, the other positive. It is not something that individuals can satisfactorily pursue by private, decentralized means and it is something that the state is able to pursue fairly effectively. — Philip Pettit, Republicanism, 452

Categorization

• XREF: This two-condition test (private pursuit fails + state can succeed) parallels the public-goods rationale for institutions. — connects to: Some goods are valuable yet not appropriate objects of state action — Philip Pettit, Republicanism: A Theory of Freedom and…, 451; The state cannot claim a monopoly over law; Non-domination, unlike friendship, requires state pursuit because individuals cannot secure it privately — Philip Pettit, Republicanism: A Theory of Freedom and…, 452 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Some goods are valuable yet not appropriate objects of state action #contradicts (0.90) — Philip Pettit, Republicanism, 451
• Non-domination, unlike friendship, requires state pursuit because individuals cannot secure it privately #exemplifies (0.85) — Philip Pettit, Republicanism, 452
• Freedom as non-domination is a universal primary good requiring state action to secure. #exemplifies (0.80) — Philip Pettit, Republicanism, 1233
• The state cannot claim a monopoly over law #contradicts (0.75)
• Freedom requires material independence from another’s arbitrary will #expands (0.75) — Philip Pettit, Republicanism, 173