There are many schemes put forth to violate property, but are designed in such a way to sound beneficial. It’ll be easy to identify a scheme if you fully understand property. Property is simple so it’s easy to get overlooked, and not be thought about deeply. Imprecise meanings and assumed definitions can lead to schemes gaining support. Property is as basic as it gets. Which is why it’s so important to fully understand.
A scarcity must exist for property to be identified. Properly identifying property can avoid conflicts. This is not to say conflicts will disappear, but they can be minimized. There can easily be a clash over scarce resources so property titles must be assigned to the first user. Property begins with the body and expands outward. Chaos will ensue if there aren’t rules about who owns what.
We don’t live in a world of superabundance. The utopians will claim they can get us there if we just follow the scheme they put forward. A scheme isn’t based on contractual exchange. This wouldn’t be needed if it was. The scheme uninvitedly alters the exchange either directly or indirectly. It’s an aggression either way. This means, someone will always be harmed. Only property is ethically defensible.
We own our body through direct control. In that sense, we are the first user. You can make outside matter your property by original appropriation. You must be the first user. You can’t just claim a piece of land to be your property. It must be put to use. Your labor must be mixed with it. Only in this way can you homestead property. What has been homesteaded can then be exchanged on a voluntary basis.
Understanding property is essential. It will allow you to quickly identify a scheme. A scheme is not based on voluntary acting individuals. The scheme wouldn’t be needed if it was. It must be aggression. As much as people try to make it sound nice, the devil’s in the details. It’s always and everywhere aggression. This can’t be escaped. Only property is ethical. The scheme must be unethical and immoral.
Reference
Hans-Hermann Hoppe; A Theory of Socialism & Capitalism
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