Early Modern Conceptions of Property (Revised)

Early Modern Conceptions of Property draws together distinguished academics from a variety of disciplines, including law, economics, politics, art history, social history, and literature, in order to consider fundamental issues of property in the early modern period. Presenting diverse original historical and literary case studies in a sophisticated theoretical framework, it offers a challenge to conventional interpretations. The articles address classic issues of property theory: how can private ownership of natural resources be justified? Is it possible to reconcile the rights of property owners backed by state power and the rights of the propertyless to life and liberty? Ought the state to limit or deny ownership rights in certain things, such as slaves, babies, animals? What constraints, if any, should be placed on the power to transmit assets through inheritance? These crucial debates now have renewed urgency and relevance as in the United States and western Europe state constraints on private ownership are being newly challenged from the political right, and as eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union move toward market economies. Early Modern Conceptions of Property concentrates these issues in an exciting international collection.