In Defense of Looting

The Psychological Roots of Destructive Idealism True growth requires an grounded understanding of reality, yet many remain trapped in a state of extended adolescence. Douglas Murray argues that modern justifications for chaos, specifically those found in the book In Defense of Looting by Vicky Osterweil, stem from profound historical and geographical ignorance. This mindset ignores the hard-won structures that maintain peace, choosing instead to view foundational societal pillars—like property rights and the rule of law—as purely oppressive forces rather than essential safeguards against human impulse. The Fantasy of the 'State of Nature' Vicky Osterweil posits that removing police and state structures would result in a world where things are simply "free." This perspective represents a dangerous psychological detachment from history. When legal frameworks vanish, the result is never a benevolent utopia; instead, it is a rapid descent into violence that disproportionately harms vulnerable communities. Historical experiments in lawlessness, such as the CHAZ/CHOP zone in Seattle, demonstrate that a lack of oversight leads to a urine-stenched wasteland rather than a liberated society. The High Cost of Moral Naivety Resilience involves recognizing that the world is often indifferent or hostile. The tragic account of an American couple killed by a Jihadi cell in Tajikistan illustrates the fatal consequences of extreme naivety. They believed the world simply lacked enough love, failing to realize that some actors do not share their moral framework. This "wicked juvenile thinking" refuses to acknowledge the necessity of protection, leaving individuals defenseless against the very real dangers of the world. Conclusion: Facing the Reality of Order We must move past the word salad of modern academia to see the consequences of our ideas. A society that rejects the legitimacy of ownership and the necessity of order eventually inherits exactly what its actions produce: a breakdown of safety and the loss of the civilizational progress we often take for granted.