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The Law, by Bastiat
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"I prefer liberty with danger than peace with slavery."

--- Rousseau


Lesson 40 - Property of Self Print E-mail

 

Consider the case of the most intimate of partnerships, that of marriage.

However much two persons love each other and are generally compatible and in agreement, two persons cannot exercise ultimate decision-making authority over a given property.

There is certainly nothing wrong morally if they elect to leave such decision-making to future debate and compromise.  It is important however that they realize that such debate and compromise will arise.

The condition of ownership emerges because of the nature of man, not because of the nature of property.

The relationship of ownership decends from the owner.  It does not arise from the property.

Most of the conflict that we experience as human beings arises in disputes over property, and over the question of ownership. 

This is why Marx envisioned and why so many utopian dreamers still propose a world without property - or more accurately, a world without ownership.  Failing that, or perhaps in actuality, they propose a world where THEY in their greater wisdom will unilaterally decide who owns how much of what.

If we are to maximize human well-being, we must learn to anticipate problems that might occur in the matter of property and ownership, and take effective action to minimize the possibilities of such conflict.

 

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Fundamentals of Liberty