Immigration and Freedom

by Chandran Kukathas

To begin with, it is not obvious what it means, or to what extent it would be desirable, for anyone to be able to decide who to invite in and who to turn away at the door. Perhaps if one were the sole occupant of an apartment it would be a good thing to have complete authority to decide who may enter—granting that allowances might be made for fire-fighters, who should not have to wait for an owner’s permission when the building is burning. If, however, the apartment is occupied by a couple, things might go better if each had some discretion to admit guests as they pleased—though it would be considerate of one to consult the other in special cases, and a bad idea for either to let a room to a tenant or host an in-law without warning. Should the apartment be occupied by a group of people, life would go a little better if each had some discretion to decide who might visit, without needing always to seek authorization from the rest of the group: it would be a less than harmonious household if each had a veto on every entry or even if a majority vote were needed to issue any invitation. This would hold more strongly still if the home in question were not an apartment but a condominium. If the entire body of owners and renters had to be consulted before anyone could visit or stay, or before a cleaner or baby-sitter could be employed, that housing complex would be a less attractive place for many; and given human nature, it is highly likely that such a requirement would be breach...