What should not be for sale

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Write a review Rate this item: 1 2 3 4 5. Preview this item Preview this item. Series: Oxford political philosophy. They allow vast numbers of people, most of whom never meet, to cooperate together in a system of voluntary exchange The noted philosopher Debra Satz takes a skeptical view of markets, pointing out that free markets are not always a force for good. The idea of free exchange of child labor, human organs, reproductive services, weapons, life-saving medicines, and addictive drugs, strike many as toxic to human values.

She asks: What considerations ought to guide the debates about such markets? Satz develops a broader and more nuanced view of markets whereby they not only allocate resources and incomes, but shape our culture, foster or thwart human development, and create and support structures of power--Provided by publisher.

Robert S. Taylor - - Public Affairs Quarterly 21 1 Added to PP index Total views 80, of 2,, Recent downloads 6 months 2 , of 2,, How can I increase my downloads? Sign in to use this feature. About us. Editorial team. Equality, philosophy and economics. Applied ethics. History of Western Philosophy. Normative ethics.

Philosophy of biology. Philosophy of language. Philosophy of mind. Philosophy of religion. In the case of child labor, she takes the interests of children and the development of their capabilities as the main guideline, concluding that abusive forms of child labor are much more problematic involving extreme harm to the individual than other forms.

The case of bonded labor is treated in the light of the four items and all appear relevant, the most important problem being the inequalities in power and the encroachment on basic freedoms generated by a widespread practice of bonded labor. Finally, markets for organs appear problematic on all four counts when they are unregulated, but with substantial restrictions certain forms of organ selling appear tolerable.

This is a case in which the empirical facts about the consequences are important and may depend on the context. The motivation of donors is famously known to be sensitive to the context of the donation. There may be other consequences as well. For instance, she highlights the example of Indian poor being refused credit when they do not accept to put their organs as collaterals.

The market for organs therefore generates externalities on other markets and creates additional inequalities. It seems to me that Satz could have built an even more ambitious set of conclusions from her theory. Rather than thinking of the four critical items as features that render a market problematic when they are strong enough, one could critically examine all segments of a market, or even every individual trade, in this light.

The distinction to be made would then not be between acceptable markets and problematic markets, but between acceptable trades and problematic trades. Problematic trades may occur in every market.

Insofar as such problematic trades occur, a need for regulation may arise in every market. For instance, she sometimes takes the market for apples as contrasting with the problematic cases under examination. As a matter of fact, the food market is a very delicate one, with problems of potentially extremely bad consequences poisoning , of weak agency due to asymmetric information, and even of vulnerability the cheapest calories are found in unhealthy food.

Even the consequences for social relations can be a concern insofar as obesity is a marker of social standing. Sign in. Not registered? Sign up. Publications Pages Publications Pages. Recently viewed 0 Save Search.

Users without a subscription are not able to see the full content. Why Some Things Should Not Be for Sale: The Moral Limits of Markets Debra Satz Abstract The idea of free exchange of child labor, human organs, reproductive services, weapons, life saving medicines, and addictive drugs, strike many as toxic to human values.

More The idea of free exchange of child labor, human organs, reproductive services, weapons, life saving medicines, and addictive drugs, strike many as toxic to human values.