# Function vs. Rights in The Acquisitive Society

> Theme guide for The Acquisitive Society by R. H. Tawney.

The book contrasts a society organized around social purpose and function—where rights derive from service—with an 'acquisitive society' based on absolute individual rights to property and gain, regardless of social contribution.

## Where it surfaces

- [Introductory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_acquisitive_society_se/chapters/introductory): The chapter establishes industry's function as service to the community, contrasting it with the assertion of individual rights divorced from social purpose.
- [Rights and Functions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_acquisitive_society_se/chapters/rights-and-functions): The chapter explicitly defines function as activity embodying social purpose, contrasting it with the prevailing emphasis on individual rights irrespective of social contribution.
- [The Acquisitive Society](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_acquisitive_society_se/chapters/the-acquisitive-society): Contrasts the doctrine of rights (individual property and self-interest) with the principle of function (discharge of social obligations as basis for rights).
- [The Nemesis of Industrialism](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_acquisitive_society_se/chapters/the-nemesis-of-industrialism): Contrasts the principle of function (remuneration based on service) with the prevailing doctrine of unlimited rights to exploit economic opportunities, arguing that the latter causes perpetual conflict and dissatisfaction.
- [Property and Creative Work](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_acquisitive_society_se/chapters/property-and-creative-work): The central argument is that society should be organized on the basis of functions, not rights irrespective of service; property is moral only when it involves the discharge of definite personal obligations.
- [The Functional Society](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_acquisitive_society_se/chapters/the-functional-society): The chapter centers on the principle that property and industry must serve a social function, contrasting with the idea of absolute property rights.
- [Industry as a Profession](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_acquisitive_society_se/chapters/industry-as-a-profession): Central to the chapter: property rights are criticized as passive and functionless, and the principle of purpose is applied to industry to base rights on the performance of function.
- [The "Vicious Circle"](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_acquisitive_society_se/chapters/the-vicious-circle): Tawney argues that property and income must be justified by service (function), and that functionless property (unearned income) is the root cause of economic conflict and inefficiency.
- [The Condition of Efficiency](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_acquisitive_society_se/chapters/the-condition-of-efficiency): The chapter argues that property rights should be conditioned on function, and that functionless property should be abolished to achieve efficiency.
- [Porro Unum Necessarium](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_acquisitive_society_se/chapters/porro-unum-necessarium): The central theme of the chapter: society should be organized on the basis of function, not rights, with proprietary rights maintained only when accompanied by service.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_acquisitive_society_se/themes/function_vs_rights
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_acquisitive_society_se/themes