Distributive Lessons from Division of Labour

Abstract In their justification of individual entitlements, libertarians appeal to the concept of self-ownership. This paper argues that taking into account the division of labour in society calls for a fundamental reassessment of the normative implications of self-ownership. How should the benefits...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Dietsch, Peter (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Brill 2008
In: Journal of moral philosophy
Year: 2008, Volume: 5, Issue: 1, Pages: 96-117
Further subjects:B Distributive Justice
B DIVISION OF LABOUR
B SELF-OWNERSHIP
B CO-OPERATIVE SURPLUS
B Libertarianism
B LEFT-LIBERTARIANISM
B Equality
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Summary:Abstract In their justification of individual entitlements, libertarians appeal to the concept of self-ownership. This paper argues that taking into account the division of labour in society calls for a fundamental reassessment of the normative implications of self-ownership. How should the benefits from division of labour—in other words, how should the co-operative surplus—be distributed? On the assumption that the parties to the division of labour are interdependent, and that this interdependence is mutual and of the same degree, I argue for an equal distribution of the co-operative surplus. In form, my argument bears similarities to the left-libertarian position that calls for an equal distribution of natural resources. Despite its radically egalitarian implications, an equal distribution of the co-operative surplus remains a libertarian principle.
ISSN:1745-5243
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal of moral philosophy
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1163/174552408X306744