Entitlement Theory Of Justice Research Articles

The Entitlement Theory of Justice in Nozick's Anarchy, State and Utopia

The Entitlement Theory of Justice in Nozick's Anarchy, State and Utopia

Robert Nozick’s Entitlement Theory of Justice, Libertarian Rights and the Minimal State: A Critical Evaluation

Robert Nozick in his famous book Anarchy, State and Utopia (1974) responded to, in part, John Rawls’ distribution theory as articulated in the latter’s celebrated book A Theory of Justice (1971) with the former’s entitlement theory. Nozick calls Rawls’ distribution theory a patterned theory. To Nozick, no distribution is just and there should not be redistribution at all. Redistribution infringes individual’s rights which, according to Nozick, trumps all other considerations and subject matters. In Nozick’s view, individual rights are all that matters and that there is nothing such as a society or community or collective well-being. In line with this course arguments, Nozick falls just short of supporting anarchy but the all-encompassing individualism that he propagates only allows for the existence of the minimal state which he regards as the only legitimate form of state which does not violate individual’s rights. Nozick’s theories blatantly rejects the idea of any more extensive form of state such as those propagated by Rawls which calls for distributive justice i.e. through taxing individuals and redistributing them. This article will shed light particularly on entitlement theory of justice, libertarian rights, individualism and the minimal state and evaluate them from a critical perspective.

ENTITLEMENT THEORY OF JUSTICE AND END-STATE FAIRNESS IN THE ALLOCATION OF GOODS

Abstract:Robert Nozick allegedly introduced his liberal theory of private ownership as an objection to theories of end-state justice. Nevertheless, we show that, in a stylized framework for the allocation of goods in joint ventures, both approaches can be seen as complementary. More precisely, in such a context, self-ownership (the basis for Nozick’s entitlement theory of justice) followed by voluntary transfer (Nozick’s principle of just transfer) can lead to end-state fairness (as well as Pareto efficiency). Furthermore, under a certain solidarity condition, the only way to achieve end-state fairness, following Nozick’s procedure, is to endorse an egalitarian rule for the initial assignment of rights.

Growing Pains: An Argumentative Analysis on the Desirability of Economic Growth

In 2012 the German Bundestag convened an inquiry committee tasked with investigating the role of economic growth in society. While the opposition parties presented a rather critical outlook on the phenomenon, the overall tone of the coalition, consisting of Christian Democrats (CDU) and Liberals (FDP), portraits a rather positive image of economic growth. Representatives of the coalition argue that economic growth is inherently tied to freedom and, by extension, to the principles of a free democratic society. This reasoning, called the ‚Free-Society Argument‘ makes a case for the intrinsic value of growth. It is reconstructed and analyzed using the method of Analytical Discourse Evaluation. The underlying premises of the argument are in line with Robert Nozick‘s entitlement theory of justice, as well as the principle of negative freedom and can be defeated on the bases of critiques of these philosophical positions. Moreover, the argument is built upon on a specific (neoliberal) interpretation of economic growth. This weakens the quality of the argument, since it undermines the complexity of the phenomenon and excludes important elements of growth from the reasoning.

A Critique of Robert Nozick’s Critique of Patterned Principles of Justice

This paper critically discusses an objection raised by Robert Nozick’s entitlement theory of justice against the so-called patterned principles of distributive justice. The objection suggests that “patterned principles” treat objects as if they appeared from nowhere. The paper challenges the helpfulness of the schematic label “patterned principles”, shows that the objection raised by the entitlement theory flows from a misreading of the principles falling under that label and suggests that the entitlement theory would be exposed to the same objection, if read in the same light. Furthermore the paper criticizes a conception of the Lockean advocated by the entitlement theory in the course of its objection to “patterned theories of justice” and questions the capacity of the entitlement theory to honour Kant’s formula of the end in itself.

Robert Nozick: property, justice and the minimal state

Introduction. I: Nozicka s Libertarianism. II: Libertarian Rights. III: Defending the Minimal State. IV: The Entitlement Theory of Justice. V: Nozick and Political Philosophy. Notes. Guide to Further Reading. Bibliography.

Nozick's Identity Crisis

Both the general structure of Nozick's entitlement theory of justice and the particular arguments he directs against Rawls presuppose a conception of the person. The essay argues that this initial conception of the person is flawed and that Nozick must amend it. However, those amendments lead either to an equally flawed conception or to a conception which is substantially similar to that which Rawls invokes. On either possibility the entitlement theory is weakened. The argument has two steps. First, the initial conception of the person which emerges from Anarchy, State and Utopia is stated. Second, the problems with that initial conception lead to the elucidation of subsequent conceptions, only the last of which is capable of avoiding those problems. The cost of avoidance is, however, a high one for Nozick's arguments against Rawls, in particular, and the entitlement theory in general.

Zur Kritik der libertären Eigentumskonzeption

Abstract Nozick’s entitlement theory of justice is, besides Rawls’s theory, one of the most widely discussed and intellectually most attractive conceptions within the field of contemporary political philosophy. Nozick’s theory uses Locke's conception of the state of nature and of natural rights, and tries, starting from this point of view, to deliver a comprehensive systematisation of libertarian political ideals. This essay deals mainly with Nozick’s conception of property rights. The argument is put forward that the concept of exclusive and unrestrictable ownership of which Nozick makes use, doesn’t find any acceptable justification on the basis of his theory.

Nozick's entitlement theory of justice

Nozick's entitlement theory of justice