The Value of Free Occupational Choice

Abstract

Modern civilized societies prize the freedom to choose occupations. People are not anyone’s property, except maybe their own, and they cannot legitimately be forced to work for others. People have their own lives to lead, they should be free to do so in certain important respects even if others do not like their choices, and one of the most important respects is in choosing how and whether they work. One’s labour is such an intimate part of oneself, and one’s work is such a large part of one’s life, that it would be intolerable if one’s occupation were under the control of others.