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030162 KU Thinking about property: freedom, recognition, inequality (2026S)

4.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 3 - Rechtswissenschaften
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 30 participants
Language: German

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Wednesday 11.03. 14:00 - 15:00 Seminarraum SEM61 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum 6.OG (Kickoff Class)
  • Wednesday 25.03. 14:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum SEM61 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum 6.OG
  • Wednesday 15.04. 14:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum SEM61 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum 6.OG
  • Wednesday 22.04. 14:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum SEM61 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum 6.OG
  • Wednesday 29.04. 14:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum SEM61 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum 6.OG
  • Wednesday 06.05. 14:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum SEM61 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum 6.OG
  • Wednesday 13.05. 14:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum SEM61 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum 6.OG
  • Wednesday 20.05. 14:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum SEM61 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum 6.OG
  • Wednesday 27.05. 14:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum SEM61 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum 6.OG

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This course examines legal and social philosophical theories of property and their significance for modern Western legal thinking and its conception of the subject. We read classical positions (Locke, Smith, Kant, Hegel, Rousseau, Marx) to work out how property is conceived here in conjunction with freedom. While property is sometimes thought of as a prerequisite for individual freedom and autonomy, elsewhere it is seen as the basis of social inequality. Further, contemporary feminist and postcolonial/anti-racist critiques are included, not least to make explicit why and how we read "classics." Property is understood not merely as a legal or economic concept, but as a central category of political order, recognition, and inequality.

The course combines reading classic primary texts with critical secondary literature. Methodologically, we work with group presentations by students on the central texts of each unit, followed by open discussion among all participants. It is essential that everyone has read the assigned literature so that they can discuss the theories presented in an informed manner.

Assessment and permitted materials

Participation and Reading 20% | Short presentation 30% | Two essays of 4–5 pages on the course literature (25% each) OR final paper of 8–10 pages on a topic of your choice (50%)

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

This course requires regular attendance by participants for discussion of the literature, presentations and input from the course instructor. Two unexcused absences are permitted. Repeated absences without good reason will result in a negative assessment. Reading of the literature is required.

Attendance at the preliminary meeting is required, as this is where admission to the course, the allocation of any remaining places and the assignment of presentation topics will take place.

Examination topics

Siehe Literatur

Reading list

Die Literatur wird auf Moodle zur Verfügung gestellt.

Bhandar, Brenna. Colonial Lives of Property: Law, Land, and Racial Regimes of Ownership. Durham: Duke University Press, 2018 (Einleitung).

Eckl, Andreas / Ludwig, Bernd (Hg.). Was ist Eigentum? München: C. H. Beck, 2005 (Kapitel zu Locke, Smith, Kant, Hegel, Rousseau, Marx).

Fraser, Nancy / Gordon, Linda. „A Genealogy of Dependency: Tracing a Keyword of the U.S. Welfare State.“ In: Signs 19(2), 1994, 309–336.

Hegel, G. W. F. Grundlinien der Philosophie des Rechts. Frankfurt a. M.: Suhrkamp, 1821 (Suhrkamp-Ausgabe, §§ 41–71).

Honneth, Axel. Kampf um Anerkennung. Frankfurt a. M.: Suhrkamp, 1992 (Auszüge).

Kant, Immanuel. Die Metaphysik der Sitten. Werkeausgabe (z. B. Suhrkamp), Rechtslehre §§ 1–17.

Kahn-Freund, Otto. Labour and the Law. London: Stevens, 1972 (Auszüge).

Locke, John. Two Treatises of Government. (orig. 1689–1690), Second Treatise §§ 25–36, 37–51.

Marx, Karl. Das Kapital, Bd. I, Kap. 6: „Der Arbeitsprozess und der Verwertungsprozess.“ In: Marx-Engels-Werke (MEW).

Marx, Karl. „Zur Judenfrage.“ In: Marx-Engels-Werke, Bd. 1 (Auszüge).

Mummé, Claire. „Property in Labour and the Limits of Contract.“ In: U. Mattei & J. Haskell (Hg.), Political Economy and Law Handbook, 2015, 400–421.

Nuss, Sabine. Keine Enteignung ist auch keine Lösung. Berlin: Klaus Wagenbach, 2021.

Okin, Susan Moller. „Gender, the Public and the Private.“ In: David Held (Hg.), Political Theory Today, Oxford: Polity/Oxford Univ. Press, 1991, 67–90.

Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. Discours sur l'origine et les fondements de l'inégalité parmi les hommes (1755). Ausgewählte deutsche Ausgabe (z. B. Reclam).

Sinzheimer, Hugo. Grundzüge des Arbeitsrechts. 1927 (Auszüge, Kap. 1).

Smith, Adam. Wealth of Nations. Hrsg. R. H. Campbell & A. S. Skinner. Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 1981 (orig. 1776), Buch I, Stellen zur Arbeit.

Steedman, Carole. Labours Lost. Domestic Service and the Making of Modern England. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009 (Stelle mit dem „serf“).

Association in the course directory

Last modified: We 25.02.2026 14:25