Leiden University Student Repository

Förg, Teresa (2025)

Why the receipt of a basic income should not depend on a person’s willingness to work: A critique of White’s and Van Donselaar’s objections to Van Parijs and an additional Van Parijsian line of defense

Master thesis | Philosophy (MA) (120 EC)

This thesis examines whether, if introduced, a basic income should be conditional on the recipient’s willingness to work. An unconditional basic income is a payment all full citizens receive from the state individually, irrespective of their neediness and their willingness to work. Assuming that everyone should be entitled to an equal share of the assets available in a society, Van Parijs endorses an unconditional basic income as compensation for those who have given up part of their share. White and Van Donselaar challenge Van Parijs and argue, on different grounds, that an unconditional basic income is unfair. Examining those arguments, I argue that White’s and Van Donselaar’s objections do not rebut Van Parijs’ case. Apart from rejecting their arguments, I offer an additional, principled reason to support an unconditional basic income. This reason is based on the liberal principle of neutrality.

basic income

willingness to work

distributive justice

reciprocity

exploitation

liberal neutrality

Author

Förg, Teresa

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

Philosophy of Law, Governance, and Politics

Supervisors

Verbeek, B. J. E.

ECTS Credits

20

Language

en