Vida Panitch

Biography

My teaching and research interests lie in the areas of political philosophy and applied ethics and my current work explores the moral boundaries of markets, specifically those involving the human body. There are a variety of goods whose exchange and distribution, it is claimed, ought to be protected from the market. My research explores whether the concepts of commodification, exploitation, and inequality are capable of justifying prohibitions on the sale of such goods. I argue that in many cases they are not, and in their stead I am developing a liberal egalitarian framework that provides a justice-based argument against the sale of civic goods (votes, citizenship), necessary goods (health care, education), and a handful of physical goods (body parts, intimate labour). My past publications address issues involved in the sale of physical goods (particularly gestational labour), as well as in determining which physical goods ought to be considered necessary and thus a matter of public responsibility (such as assisted reproduction), and whether necessary goods are best guaranteed in cash or in-kind.

Research Interest

Social and politcal philosophy Bioethics Distributive justice Feminist philosophy