Published May 7, 2012

David Schmidtz on Rawls, Nozick, and Justice

David Schmidtz delves into the philosophical theories of John Rawls and Robert Nozick, analyzing their differing views on justice, moral responsibility, and the role of the state, while defending Nozick's libertarian ideas against societal claims on individuals.

Episode Highlights

Topics covered

Episode Highlights

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David Schmidtz on Rawls, Nozick, and Justice

Topics covered

Popular Clips

Nozick's Alternative Perspective

Rawls and the Veil of Ignorance

The Redistribution Debate

Fairness and Impartiality

Arguments Against Progressive Taxation

Ownership and Talent

Justice and Redistribution

Challenging Rawls' Theory

Symbolic Value

The Ownership Debate

Defining Basic Structures

Rawls' Theory of Justice

Property Ownership Debate

Nozick's Departure

Moral Responsibility

Episode Highlights

Philosophical Impacts

Nozick's Libertarianism

Rawls' Justice Theory

Related Episodes

Joseph Stiglitz on Inequality

Dan Klein on The Theory of Moral Sentiments, Episode 3--A Discussion of Part II

David Boaz, P.J. O'Rourke, and George Will on the State of Liberty

Peter Berkowitz on Locke, Liberty, and Liberalism

Vernon Smith on Rationality in Economics

Michael Lind on Libertarianism

Thomas Sowell on Economic Facts and Fallacies

Richard Epstein on the Rule of Law

John Ralston Saul on Reason, Elites, and Voltaire's Bastards

Dan Klein on The Theory of Moral Sentiments, Episode 1--An Overview

Mary Hirschfeld on Economics, Culture, and Aquinas and the Market

Dan Klein on Truth, Bias, and Disagreement

Barry Weingast on Violence, Power and a Theory of Nearly Everything

Daniel Klein on Honest Income

Robert Frank on Inequality

David Schmidtz on Rawls, Nozick, and Justice

Topics covered

Popular Clips

Episode Highlights

Philosophical ImpactsDavid Schmidtz explores the moral and philosophical implications of John Rawls and Robert Nozick's theories on justice. He examines their perspectives on moral responsibility, power dynamics, and the challenges to classical philosophical traditions.

Philosophical Impacts

Nozick's LibertarianismDavid Schmidtz critiques the idea of societal claims on individual talents, defending Nozick's stance on personal autonomy and voluntary exchange. He examines the legitimacy of state roles in redistribution and taxation, questioning the justice of wealth redistribution.

Nozick's Libertarianism

Rawls' Justice TheoryDavid Schmidtz discusses the influential theories of John Rawls, focusing on concepts like the Veil of Ignorance and the Difference Principle. These ideas challenge traditional views on justice and have significantly impacted philosophical and social science debates.

Rawls' Justice Theory

Related Episodes