CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2009
| Author | Erdenk, Emre Arda |
|---|---|
| Title | Can the Nozickean Proviso Guide Homo habilis: Cognitive and Evolutionary Criticism of the "Historicity" of the Entitlement Theory |
| Summary | Robert Nozick claims that we should apply the principle of initial acquisitions of just holdings in historical instances. In this thesis, I argue that the proviso for the principle of initial acquisitions of just holdings which Nozick suggests, cannot be an action-guiding principle at the stage of Homo habilis and Homo rudolfensis and this alters the claim that the Entitlement Theory is a ‘historical principle’. Considering this central claim, I explore the social and cognitive capabilities of Homo habilis, Homo rudolfensis, and Homo ergaster, in order to construct the historical instance of early hominid social life. Secondly, I give account of their mindreading ability based on mental simulation. By means of these, I argue that Homo habilis and Homo rudolfensis were cognitively incapable of being guided by the Nozickean Proviso, whereas Homo ergaster would have been capable of understanding it. Thus, this issue puts limits on the accessibility of the Entitlement Theory to all historical instances. Ultimately, I conclude that limitations of the Nozickean Proviso alter the claim of historicity of the Entitlement Theory. |
| Supervisor | Moles, Andres |
| Department | Philosophy MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2009/erdenk_emre.pdf |
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