This week we'll look at justifications for property rights and how they are applied in various legal contexts. We'll begin by outlining the competing justifications for property rights, including sovereignty, efficiency, distributive justice, settled expectations, labor and investment, and possession. It then dives into specific examples of how these justifications are used in cases involving government grants, squatters, basic needs fulfillment, and the ownership of labor. We'll also consider the legal implications of possession, particularly in the context of wild animals, baseballs, oil and gas, and finders. Lastly, it explores the connection between property rights and concepts of personhood, particularly in the context of total institutions. We'll aim to provide a foundation for understanding the complex legal and philosophical arguments that surround property rights, offering a framework for analyzing real-world disputes and exploring the various policy concerns they raise.

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