Entitlement theory

Robert Nozick's theory of distributive justice Entitlement theory is a theory of distributive justice and private property created by Robert Nozick in chapters 7 and 8 of his book Anarchy, State, and Utopia. The theory is Nozick's attempt to describe "justice in holdings" (Nozick 1974:150)—or what can be said about and done with the property people own when viewed from a principle of justice. Principles Nozick's entitlement theory comprises three main principles: A principle of justice in acquisition – This principle deals with the initial acquisition of holdings. It is an account of how people first come to own unowned and natural world property, what types of things can be held, and so forth. A principle of justice in transfer – This principle explains how one person can acquire holdings from another, including voluntary exchange and gifts. A principle of rectification of injustice – how to deal with holdings that are unjustly acquired or transferred, whether and how much victims can be compensated, how to deal with long past transgressions or injustices done by a government, and so on. Nozick believes that if the world were wholly just, only the first two principles woul