'Property and its Forms in Classical German Philosophy challenges the liberal, 'pre-political' conception of private property stemming from John Locke that is familiar and standard in contemporary political philosophy. The book examines and defends four alternative, powerful accounts of property-from Kant, Fichte, Hegel, and Marx-that have a social component to what is mine and thine. James's thorough, learned discussion contributes not only to our understanding of German political thought but also to fundamental inquiries into the nature and basis of modern liberal capitalism.' Jeffrey Church, University of Houston

'David James brilliantly demonstrates that, beyond their controversies about economic systems, classic German philosophers share the same concept of property. It isn't primarily a relation between a person and a thing, but a system of mutual limitation of free spheres of action. This opens highly promising perspectives for the current debates on distributive justice.' Jean-Christophe Merle, University of Vechta/Universität des Saarlandes