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In boxing, a knockout is any legal strike or combination thereof that renders an opponent unable to continue fighting. Keep this definition in mind, for Nozick will deliver the closest thing to a knockout by the end of Chapter 7 … Continue reading →

In the next subsection of Chapter 7 of ASU (“Macro and Micro” on pp. 204-213), Nozick compares and contrasts his own historical or “entitlement theory” of justice with Rawls’s theory along various dimensions. By way of comparison, both theories specify … Continue reading →

We have re-imagined Nozick’s extended review of Rawls in the second part of Chapter 7 of ASU as an intellectual bout involving a series of rounds. We scored Round 1 for Rawls and Round 2 a draw. What about round … Continue reading →

Thus far, Nozick has considered two possible extremes: an individualistic or Hobbesian society in which persons do not cooperate with each other (no cooperation), and a Rousseauian or Panglossian society in which everyone cooperates for the greater good (general cooperation). … Continue reading →

Nozick begins Section 2 of Chapter 7 by presenting John Rawls’s influential theory of distributive justice. (If you are not familiar with Rawls’s work or need a refresher, check out this summary here, via Larry Solum’s Legal Theory Blog.) By … Continue reading →

Let’s pick up where we left off: Section 2 of Chapter 7 of Anarchy, State, and Utopia (ASU), which contains nine separate subsections as follows: Rawls’ Theory (p. 183) Social Cooperation (pp. 183-189) Terms of Cooperation and the Difference Principle … Continue reading →

We reviewed every section of the first seven chapters (up to page 182) in Robert Nozick’s book Anarchy, State, and Utopia during the winter break. (Here is a compilation of our previous posts on Nozick.) We will begin reviewing the rest of … Continue reading →

We’ve been reading the third edition of Introduction to Legal Theory (1979) by John D. Finch. (This little tome is pictured below, left.) At one point, Professor Finch sums up Hans Kelsen’s critique of natural law thus (emphasis added by … Continue reading →

On this day in 1789 residents of Paris stormed La Bastille, a fortress-prison on the eastern edge of the city, thus precipitating the French Revolution and forever changing the course of history.