Nozick s Entitlement Theory and Distributive Justice

Distributive Justice Pulin B Nayak In this paper the theory of entitlement proposed by Robert Nozick in his Anarchy, State, and Utopia is critically examined. It is argued that contrary to Nozick's thesis, there cannot logically be any historical theory of acquisition free of patterning. It is also argued that fairness cannot ordinarily be ensured in exchange transactions. Thus both the theories of justice in acquisition and exchange are seen to be seriously flawed. It is suggested that there is no choice but to resort to periodic patterning in terms of certain end-state theories of distribution. The Marxian notion of distribution given by from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs', is found to possess great merit precisely because it abandons the notion of distribution in terms of material goods altogether.