What do you think of Molyneux's theory that family is the source of statism?

Well I grew up without a father and I feel like it instilled a hatred of arbitrary authority in me. So I would say there might be some truth to it.

Because he said so?

His entire argument loses to biology, until the biology that enables supposed inherent statism changes (gene therapy has a long way to go).

In many families it’s pretty clear what is reasonable & unreasonable obedience, which may have to be resolved through conflict between family members (such as arguing, which occurs all the time).

This of course, prevents the idealization of a “nu” anti-statist model of family that will probably never occur until people whom are self-admitelly anti-coercive, anti-state, etc. start only breeding amongst themselves, possibly in more than 1 or 2 numbers of children, as a way of establishing a permanent population that will carry on, at the very least, anti-establishment memes, and the most, anti-statist views & culture.

Admitelly, the above gets into voluntary eugenics (not dysegenics, please look up the difference), & not everyone likes that, among one of the reasons, because it’s not humanistic, despite the fact that individuals engage in eugenics on an unconscious level by choosing a mate to have kids with (although that is not the only drive in choosing a bearer of your children, obviously).

I think Molyneux’s rationalism is the source of statism, but there we go…