Exploring Robert Nozick’s Entitlement Theory: Understanding Justice, Property, And Individual Rights

Arpita Nayak, KIIT School of Law

ABSTRACT

In the field of political philosophy, Robert Nozick’s Entitlement Theory presents a compelling and thought-provoking perspective. The theory is connected to ideas of justice, property, and how individual rights can be understood within the context of other concepts. While other theories aim for equality or fair wealth distribution, Nozick's theory states that holdings would be justly respected if they were obtained in a just manner, according to the public principle and subject to conditions regarding past injustices. This paper explores the potential vision of Nozick, demonstrating the balance between respecting individual property rights and the ability of the state to intervene. Nozick advocates for respecting property rights while also acknowledging that they should be restricted by a robust, yet challenging, state power.