A Collection of New Works on the Law of Property and Political and Legal Theory

Author: Stephen R. Munzer
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2003-11-01
Features: In the fields of legal philosophy and political philosophy, the issue of property rights has always been a subject of heated debate. Thinkers such as Plato, Locke, Kant, Hegel, and Marx have proposed different views on the concept of property. The essays in this new collection, written by some of the most distinguished scholars in the field, employ markedly different techniques and perspectives to explore some of the most central issues in property theory. The essays discuss whether property can be dispersed or used arbitrarily without punishment, analyze how a person's property should be distributed after their death. These articles examine the role of intellectual property in the current economic landscape, illustrating how Locke's famous argument for the legitimacy of private property is challenged by copyright and patent rights. They also demonstrate how crucial it is to carefully justify the property system. The diversity and originality of these essays show that property theory is now one of the most exciting areas of inquiry in the humanities and social sciences. This book will appeal to scholars in fields such as philosophy, law, social policy, political theory, and critical legal studies. Its clarity also makes it accessible to general readers. Stephen R. Munzer is a law professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. His writings span a wide range of fields, including legal and political theory, biotechnology, and religious philosophy. He is the author of A Property Theory (Cambridge University Press, 1990).