Abstract
Meade’s concept of a “property-owning democracy” (PropDem) proved influential in the development of Rawls’s arguments for his theory of justice, eventually coming to represent the definitive non-socialist form of the Rawlsian just society. Despite this role in a seminal work of moral and political philosophy scant detail is provided by either author regarding the institutional characteristics of a PropDem. More importantly, it appears to have gone unnoticed by Rawls and those who have cited Meade approvingly that he proposed the PropDem as a response to imagined future circumstances (extensive automation of production) rather than the situation in any extant society. These imaginary characteristics of the PropDem play a crucial role in underpinning Rawls’s agnosticism on the relationship between justice and property rights over the means of production; the circumstances facing actual societies may compel consideration of the property rights question as part of the determination of the principles of justice.
| Original language | English |
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| Title of host publication | Essays in heterodox economics |
| Subtitle of host publication | proceedings, refereed papers |
| Editors | P. Kriesler, M. Johnson, J. Lodewijks |
| Place of Publication | Sydney, NSW |
| Publisher | Society of Heterodox Economists, University of New South Wales |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9780733424175 |
| Publication status | Published - 2006 |
| Event | Australian society of heterodox economists conference (5th : 2006) - Sydney Duration: 11 Dec 2006 → 12 Dec 2006 |
Conference
| Conference | Australian society of heterodox economists conference (5th : 2006) |
|---|---|
| City | Sydney |
| Period | 11/12/06 → 12/12/06 |