The Social Individual and Her Property: A Feminist Critique of Libertarianism Tom Malleson University King’s University College at Western in his own this nobody has any right to but himself. The of his “Every man has a property person: labour body, and the of his work hands, we may say, are properly his” (Locke, [1689] 1980, II. 27). to acquire the “A person, perhaps, is best seen as one who was long enough dependent upon other persons essential arts of personhood. Persons essentially are persons, who grow up with other second persons” (Baier, 1981, p. 180). and there are things no person or group may do to them (without “Individuals have rights, p. ix). So reads the first line of violating their rights)” (Nozick, 1974, Robert Nozick’s classic text Since its publication in 1974, libertarianism has Anarchy, State, and Utopia. become a powerful intellectual force, particularly in North America. On the right, libertarianism constitutes the intellectual core of much of the reigning anti-tax sentiment (as well as animating large social movements like the Tea Party). And since the heart of progressive politics requires taxation to achieve its aims less inequality, more – opportunity, better public services, etc. libertarian politics have troubling implications. – If taxes cannot be levied due to a strong belief in libertarian self-ownership, then
The Social Individual and Her Property: A Feminist Critique of Libertarianism Tom Malleson King’s University College at Western University “Every man has a property in his own person: this nobody has any right to but himself. The labour of his body, and the work of his hands, we may say, are properly his” (Locke, [1689] 1980, II. 27). “A person, perhaps, is best seen as one who was long enough dependent upon other persons to acquire the essential arts of personhood. Persons essentially are second persons, who grow up with other persons” (Baier, 1981, p. 180). “Individuals have rights, and there are things no person or group may do to them (without violating their rights)” (Nozick, 1974, p. ix). So reads the first line of Robert Nozick’s classic text Anarchy, State, and Utopia. Since its publication in 1974, libertarianism has become a powerful intellectual force, particularly in North America. On the right, libertarianism constitutes the intellectual core of much of the reigning anti-tax sentiment (as well as animating large social movements like the Tea Party). And since the heart of progressive politics requires taxation to achieve its aims – less inequality, more opportunity, better public services, etc. – libertarian politics have troubling implications. If taxes cannot be levied due to a strong belief in libertarian self-ownership, then