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ON THE THINNESS OF THE UTILITARIAN DEFENSE OF PRIVATE PROPERTY

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 February 2010

JOSEPH PERSKY
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Abstract

Why did classical utilitarian thinkers offer only a thin defense of the institution of private property? Utilitarians might have viewed such a defense as irrelevant, trivial, or impossible. A fourth hypothesis holds that utilitarians were ambivalent about the institution, itself. The utilitarians are clear on the relevance of a defense. Triviality would have to be based on 18th century philosophers and historians. Impossibility would raise serious questions about the utilitarian project. Ambivalence seems the most plausible explanation. Utilitarian writings throw considerable doubt on their own commitment to the strongest versions of the defense of private property.

Type
Research Articles
Information
Journal of the History of Economic Thought , Volume 32 , Issue 1 , March 2010 , pp. 63 - 83
Copyright
Copyright © The History of Economics Society 2010

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