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| Property Rights |
| Dee
Speaking
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 John
says that property rights are going to be the sticky wicket here. He's right. But I think that strong property rights are crucial
to a correct theory of justice -- and I'll offer arguments in their favor.The most intuitive argument is this: I start with the premise that everyone belongs to himself or herself. My body, my intellect, and my talents are mine. Therefore, whatever I create (or bargain for) using my body, my intellect, and my talents is mine, as long as I don't use force or threaten others with the use of force. If you deny this, you are not treating me as a human being -- as an end in myself. Instead, you are saying that my body, my intellect, and my talents can be used to provide goods and services for others without my consent. How is that morally possible? These things are part of me. They're mine. How can anyone else have a claim on them with no agreement from me? To put it differently, how can you possibly think that you are born with a right to what I produce? |
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