Week 5 Reading - Nozik Flashcards
What is Nozick’s fundamental argument about distributive justice?
Nozick argues that the minimal state is the most extensive state that can be justified, and any more extensive distribution of resources violates individuals’ rights.
How does Nozick challenge the term ‘distribution’ in distributive justice?
He argues that resources are not centrally distributed but arise from voluntary exchanges and gifts in a free society.
What is the Entitlement Theory of Justice?
A just distribution arises from just acquisition, just transfer, and rectification of past injustices.
What are the three principles of justice in holdings according to Nozick?
Justice in Acquisition – How unowned resources can be rightfully claimed.
Justice in Transfer – How property can be voluntarily exchanged.
Rectification of Injustice – How to address past wrongful acquisitions or transfers.
How does Nozick contrast historical principles with end-state principles?
Historical principles judge justice based on how holdings were acquired, while end-state principles judge justice based on how resources are distributed at a single moment.
Why does Nozick reject patterned principles of distribution?
Because maintaining a pattern requires constant interference in people’s voluntary exchanges, which violates individual liberty.
What is the Wilt Chamberlain argument, and what does it illustrate?
It shows how voluntary exchanges disrupt patterned distributions, proving that any enforced pattern requires continuous intervention.
How does Nozick view taxation for redistribution?
He compares taxation of earnings to forced labor, arguing that it unjustly takes people’s time and effort for others’ benefit.
What problem does Nozick see with socialist distribution models?
If people are free to exchange their holdings, a patterned socialist distribution will inevitably be disrupted by voluntary transactions.
What is Nozick’s alternative slogan to distributive justice maxims like ‘to each according to his needs’?
‘From each as they choose, to each as they are chosen.’
