ClumsyMonkey.net

Hey guys, I have to write a paper on Nozick, and answer the questions "how strong a defense of private property does Nozick succedd in providing?"

Now I've read the assigned reading (Justice and Entitlement), but there are some things that I'm having trouble with.

First off, I was rather confused as to whether Nozick believed that we are entitled to holdings so long as it doesn't worsen anyone else? Or does he believe that you are not responsible for the worsening of others?

Secondly, he uses "appropriation" many times, but my dictionary definition doesn't seem to make sense, as it says that appropriation is "to set aside for special use" or "take for ourselves". I'm not sure which of these definitions are what Nozick means to say.

Also, does he want us to redistribute land and holdings to the original holder? That seems somewhat odd, because essentially nothing would belong to anyone if you go back far enough.

Mainly I'm just confused. This is something that I'm finding really interesting but some things just aren't clear, so any help would be appreciated.

Maybe if you guys know of any websites or whatever that could help. My paper is due on Monday so hopefully you guys could post on here before then. It's only a 500-1500 word paper, so I basically decide how in depth I want to go.

Thanks!

ooooo boy it's been a long time since i read that book.

he believes we are entitled to holdings so long as we don't appropriate ALL of a specific resource, i believe, under his principle of compensation we would be therefore required to compensate other people for doing so. (because we are prohibiting them from using that resource). i think...

i'm not sure if he was advocating redistribution of land so much as he was demonstrating how his theory would work from the very start of the world, un pragmatic as that is.

jesus. i'll look it up on some forums and shit and see if i can come up with some more.

haha thanks, but it's a couple days too late. I shoulda brought this up earlier but procrastination got the best of me. Thanks though! I managed to find some good sites which explained his theory well and I pulled off a pretty good paper. Hopefully good enough.

I'm starting to find all the anarchist stuff rather interesting. Maybe not something I completely agree with, but it is interesting nonetheless. I didn't really understand it before this school year, but its really starting to make sense.