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Single Idea 20539

[catalogued under 25. Social Practice / C. Rights / 4. Property rights]

Full Idea

Nozick identified three ways in which people can acquire a legitimate property holding: initial acquisition, voluntary transfer, and rectification (of unjust transfers).

Gist of Idea

Property is legitimate by initial acquisition, voluntary transfer, or rectification of injustice

Source

report of Robert Nozick (Anarchy,State, and Utopia [1974]) by Adam Swift - Political Philosophy (3rd ed) 1 'Nozick'

A Reaction

I think it is a delusion to look for justice in the ownership of property. You can't claim justice for buying property if the money to do it was acquired unjustly. And what rights over those who live on the land come with the 'ownership'?

Book Reference

Swift,Adam: 'Political Philosophy (3rd edn)' [Polity 2014], p.33