The Entitlement Theory of Justice

The Entitlement Theory of Justice, developed by philosopher Robert Nozick, suggests that a just society is built on proper acquisition and transfer of holdings. If people acquire property fairly and transfer it voluntarily, then their holdings are just, regardless of how unequal they may be. The focus is on individual rights to possessions and the processes that secure those rights, rather than on redistributing wealth or achieving social equality. Essentially, justice depends on respecting individual property rights and the legitimacy of how holdings are obtained and exchanged.