This is an excerpt from the IPA’s publication The 100 Great Books of Liberty on The Moon is a Harsh Mistress (1966) by Robert Heinlein.
Robert A. Heinlein’s 1966 novel The Moon is a Harsh Mistress contains a simple story. Facing an ecological disaster, the Luna colonists rise up against the Luna Authority and establish a libertarian society. In many respects the story is a replay of the American Revolution. Indeed, the characters in the novel ac- knowledge the similarities.
This classic contains many of the features of early science fiction— talking computers and beautiful girls. Yet Harsh Mistress is not just a pulp sci-fi novel.
Many of the principles and themes of classical liberalism are highlighted in the novel. We are told ‘like fire and fusion, government is a dangerous servant and a terrible master’. In the book, Heinlein invented the acronym TANSTAAFL—There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch. Further, Heinlein illustrates many economic issues, especially those associated with public choice theory. Revolution has public good characteristics—society at large shares the benefits, if any, of revolution while the revolutionaries bear all the costs. In other words, there is far less revolution than what is economically efficient. Yet we never hear of government wanting to subsidise revolutionary activity—not in their own country. Mannie—the narrator—is the effective leader of the revolution. He has to be cajoled into being leader.
Mannie, the reluctant revolutionary, is a one-armed computer technician who has stumbled across the key to the revolution. The Luna Authority computer—named Mike—has become sentient and is bored. Of course, jaded readers may be sceptical of this plot device, yet it is an important feature of the whole story. Mike solves the coordination problem that all revolutionaries face. Maintaining secrecy and a coherent structure is a key problem faced by all revolutionaries. Having the Authority’s own computer system sentient and on-side allows the revolution to proceed. It also solves other problems. Mannie and his colleagues are able to use Mike to finance the revolution through financial fraud—not quite as vulgar as blackmail or armed robbery.
Heinlein’s major contribution, however, is the exploration of classical liberal themes. The opening line tells of the outrageous development whereby the Luna City Council would be taxing public food vendors. After the revolution, Prof—the major libertarian character—opines ‘do not resort to compulsory taxation. There is no worse tyranny than to force a man to pay for what he does not want merely because you think it would be good for him.’ When asked how the revolutionaries would pay for the revolution, he answers, ‘At least, in stealing, we have not created the villainous precedent of taxation.’ Prof also poses the question, ‘under what circumstances may the State justly place its welfare above that of a citizen?’ Mannie replies, ‘[there] are no circumstances under which [the] State is justified in placing its welfare ahead of mine.’ Another character points out that that is a very self-centred approach.
Some might argue that if we were all so selfish, society would break down and anarchy would prevail. Well, no. Heinlein describes a society where people are very selfish, yet self-interest leads to cooperation and trade. This occurs spontaneously even before the revolution.
The key to this cooperation is the maxim ‘mind your own business’. The characters follow that maxim. Justice on Luna is privatised, and their judgment is summary. Individuals contract with each other to form courts and juries. Some specialise in being private judges. Our narrator finds himself being a judge when he visits an absent friend—a judge—who has waiting customers. Minor crimes are dealt with via fines, major crimes result in the perpetrator being shoved out an airlock. Overall, Heinlein describes a society that works well.
Women are in short-supply on Luna. This results in unusual marriage customs—polyandry and clan marriages. Mannie, on a visit to Earth, is arrested and charged with bigamy, polygamy, and incitement. Heinlein’s original audience may not have realised the significance of this part of the novel.
Mannie’s extended family does provide a source of in-the-know background characters. Marriage is described as the best social institution for preserving capital and providing for the welfare of children. Heinlein also correctly argues that social institutions adapt to the economic necessities of the environment. Divorce, while easy, is uncommon. The Luna Authority does not regulate marriage. Contrast Heinlein’s world with the situation in modern states where any manner of cohabitation is legal, but the government maintains a very strong hold on marriage licenses.
One issue that Heinlein does raise but does not explore is the notion of monarchy. One character, Stuart Rene Lajoie, is a monarchist classical liberal. This notion is not as outlandish as it might seem, yet it is unfortunate that Heinlein does not explore the issue at any length. Science fiction author David Weber, in his 2003 novel Crown of Slaves, does explore monarchy as a viable system of government from a classical liberal perspective.
Friedrich Hayek has warned against Cartesian rationalism—the notion that all aspects of human experience can be understood. This form of rationalism leads people to reject anything they cannot understand. Classical liberals often fall into this trap.
Prof tells the post-revolution congress to ‘Distrust the obvious, suspect the traditional.’ Good advice, to be sure, yet there is much good to be learnt from the traditional.
This is fine book. Many of the important classical liberal ideas and ideals are expressed in an entertaining way. Some readers might find the prose difficult—there are no articles of speech, but it can be enjoyed by all.
Main image credit: Alan Brown, reactormag.com
