Prehistory of Private Property: Implications for Modern Political Theory

The book challenges three false claims about property systems, arguing that inequality is not natural, capitalism is not more consistent with negative freedom, and the normative principles of appropriation and voluntary transfer support a capitalist system with strong, individualist, and unequal private property rights. It refutes these claims with anthropological and historical evidence, showing that societies with common-property systems were initially widespread and that the private property rights system was established through violent state-sponsored aggressions.

Format: Hardback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 28 February 2021
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

This book challenges three widely held beliefs about property systems that are commonly accepted by contemporary political philosophers. These beliefs include the idea that inequality is natural, inevitable, or incompatible with freedom; that capitalism is more consistent with negative freedom than any other economic system; and that the normative principles of appropriation and voluntary transfer support a capitalist system with strong, individualist, and unequal private property rights. The authors conduct a thorough review of the history of these claims in philosophy and use extensive anthropological and historical evidence to refute them. They demonstrate that societies with common-property systems that maintain strong equality and extensive freedom were once prevalent worldwide and that the private property rights system was established through a series of violent state-sponsored aggressions.

The authors begin by examining the claim that inequality is natural, inevitable, or incompatible with freedom. They argue that this belief is based on a narrow understanding of freedom that focuses solely on individual autonomy and ignores the social and economic structures that shape individuals' lives. They point out that inequality is a result of social and economic policies that prioritize the accumulation of wealth and power by a small elite, and that these policies are often supported by the state.

The authors then examine the claim that capitalism is more consistent with negative freedom than any other economic system. They argue that capitalism is based on the exploitation of labor and the accumulation of wealth, which leads to a concentration of power and wealth in the hands of a few individuals. They point out that capitalism has led to widespread poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation, and that it is not sustainable in the long term.

The authors also examine the claim that the normative principles of appropriation and voluntary transfer support a capitalist system with strong, individualist, and unequal private property rights. They argue that these principles are based on a flawed understanding of human nature and that they do not promote social justice or equality. They point out that these principles have been used to justify the exploitation of labor and the accumulation of wealth by a small elite, and that they have led to the concentration of power and wealth in the hands of a few individuals.

The authors provide extensive evidence to support their arguments. They use anthropological and historical evidence to show that societies with common-property systems that maintain strong equality and extensive freedom were once prevalent worldwide. They also use economic data to show that capitalism is not more consistent with negative freedom than any other economic system.

The authors also offer a critique of the current economic system. They argue that the current economic system is based on the exploitation of labor and the accumulation of wealth, and that it is not sustainable in the long term. They propose a new economic system that is based on the principles of social justice and equality.

In conclusion, this book challenges three widely held beliefs about property systems that are commonly accepted by contemporary political philosophers. The authors provide extensive evidence to support their arguments and offer a critique of the current economic system. They argue that inequality is a result of social and economic policies that prioritize the accumulation of wealth and power by a small elite, and that capitalism is not more consistent with negative freedom than any other economic system. They propose a new economic system that is based on the principles of social justice and equality.

Weight: 640g
Dimension: 185 x 240 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781474447423