1. Nozick on self-ownership

Nozick built his theory on self-ownership. He argued that each person has rights over her own body and person. But what did he mean by this? What is self-ownership? Why was it so important for Nozick? Is ownership the right metaphor?

For Nozick, the “self” included body, organs, talents, will, personality and identity. It combined features that distinguish one individual human being from another and features common to all human beings. We can best explain Nozick's noition of the “self” via some specific self-regarding rights.

1. • The right to bodily integrity: A doctor has five patients. Each needs a different organ transplant to stay alive. A healthy person walks by, who is a match for all five patients. The doctor kills the healthy person, and uses his organs to save five lives. (Don't worry: this is an imaginary tale! Nozick's target was utilitarianism, the subject of Part II of this course.) Nozick said the doctor's action is wrong because she violates the healthy person's self-ownership rights. His organs belong to him, so he should decide how they are used. Bodily integrity also explains what is wrong with rape, torture and murder.

2. • The right to freedom of movement: I can put my body where I wish, just as I can place my apple anywhere I wish (so long as I don't thereby violate anyone else's rights; for instance, I cannot legitimately place my knife inside your body).

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