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Property is not a universal concept. It must grow from place to place and from time to time. So we have grown to understand the concept of ownership must include responsibility for the consequences of it.

http://www.notzen.net/2014/06/not-zen-114-property.html

#notzen #nature #property #selfishness #samsara #ownership #land #environment #buddhism #dao #taoism

"Property" is a slightly problematic term because, to many people, it applies only to land, and not everything that you own.

Whether or not you "own" something depends on whether or not other people think you do.

I think it might be best if we didn't respect other people's claims to own land. A pen. No question. I can respect your ownership of a pen. But part of the planet? That's a vastly different matter, in many ways.

Ideas are another problem. I won't respect your ownership of an idea. Patents are bullshit.

Of course ownership of a human being is obviously bullshit. No mentally healthy person ever respected ownership of people.

What about ownership of animals like cows? What about horses? What about dogs? I think those three might be examples of three categories. Few people, other than Hindus and vegans, would protest the killing and eating of cows. More people would be concerned about the killing of horses. More still would be upset by cruelty to a dog. Dogs, horses, and humans have a long history of cooperation. Many people treat their dogs as members of their families.

Anarchists and others distinguish between property, as in 'all property is theft', and personal possessions. So land and other things which can be common would be property, but not your pen or toothbrush. On the Kibbutz, traditionally, not only land would be common property, but also houses, livestock, cars and so on.