Book
Preview: The Problem of Property: Taking the Freedom of Nonowners Seriously
(2022)
Abstract
This file is a preview of an early version of Karl Widerquist's book, The Problem of Property, which Karl Widerquist’s first statement of his “indepentarian” theory of property, called, “Justice as the Pursuit of Accord.” It argues the natural-rights-based arguments for unequal private property have failed to establish that institution as a natural right. As currently constituted, it is a legal privilege, inconsistent with the maximum equal freedom from interference. The book discusses how to establish and maintain a property system that best promotes freedom from interference for everyone—including nonowners. Paying taxes and obeying regulations is part of the purchase price of the right to control, use, or use-up any good made partly out of natural resources (i.e. all goods), because doing so interferes with people who control, use, or use-up fewer natural resources. A sufficient portion of that tax revenue has to be redistributed in the form of a Universal Basic Income to ensure the property system is in the interest of everyone.
Keywords
- Property,
- Private Property,
- Freedom,
- Liberty,
- Inequality,
- Basic Income,
- Universal Basic Income,
- Basic Income Guarantee,
- Justice as the Pursuit of Accord,
- Indepentarianism
Disciplines
Publication Date
2022
Citation Information
Karl Widerquist. Preview: The Problem of Property: Taking the Freedom of Nonowners Seriously. (2022) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/widerquist/145/