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Thanks, Ayesha. I suspected that people would differ on welfare rights.

I was hoping that the contractarian tradition might help us resolve our differences, but it doesn't seem to have done so.

I'm inclined to think at this point that all the theories you have mentioned -- utilitarianism, libertarianism, and contractarianism -- have significant problems. Each theory seems to fit well with some of our moral intuitions, but to conflict with others.

Let's move on and talk about property rights in particular.

I have asked John to give us some idea of the traditional questions that pertain to property.