Which of the following terminology is related to Nozick's theory of justice ?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 4:
Entitlement theory of justice is the terminology directly related to the philosopher Robert Nozick, as articulated in his highly influential 1974 work, *Anarchy, State, and Utopia*. Nozick's theory is a libertarian response to redistributive theories of justice, particularly that of John Rawls. The entitlement theory posits that a distribution of holdings is just if and only if it came about through just steps from a previously just distribution, covering three core principles: the principle of justice in acquisition (how people first come to own unowned things), the principle of justice in transfer (how people may transfer holdings to others, like through trade or gifts), and the principle of rectification of injustice (how to deal with holdings unjustly acquired or transferred). Crucially, this theory is 'historical' and 'non-patterned,' meaning justice is determined by the history of how holdings were obtained, not by whether the resulting distribution meets a specific end-state pattern (like equality).

The incorrect option is 1, 2, and 3:
Options 1 (Original Position), 2 (Veil of ignorance), and 3 (Difference principle) are all foundational concepts associated with the theory of justice developed by **John Rawls** in his 1971 book, *A Theory of Justice*, not Robert Nozick. The Original Position is a hypothetical scenario Rawls uses to determine principles of justice, asking individuals to choose rules for society from behind the Veil of Ignorance. The Veil of Ignorance ensures that decision-makers are unaware of their own societal status, talents, or beliefs, guaranteeing fairness in the selection of principles. The Difference Principle is one of the two main principles Rawls argues would be chosen in the Original Position; it states that social and economic inequalities must be arranged so that they are to the greatest benefit of the least advantaged. These concepts are central to Rawls’s liberal egalitarian theory and contrast sharply with Nozick's libertarian focus on individual rights and historical acquisition.