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Natural Rights: Henry George and the Economic Fruits of a Good Society
Author(s) -
Dawsey James M.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
american journal of economics and sociology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.199
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1536-7150
pISSN - 0002-9246
DOI - 10.1111/ajes.12087
Subject(s) - natural (archaeology) , law , natural law , george (robot) , obligation , protestantism , political science , law and economics , sociology , environmental ethics , philosophy , history , archaeology , art history
This article examines H enry G eorge's understanding of how natural rights grow out of a just society. His views were influenced by the 17 th ‐century proponents of natural rights, but cannot be subsumed under them. The connection of freedom to obligation affirmed by G eorge's classical Protestantism allowed him to overcome tension between theories of natural law and natural rights. Rights and responsibilities were not abstractions for G eorge. His practical solution for restructuring society offers a modern path to a more just society in which rights would abound.