Property is theft!

[sarahj]

Many thinkers, such as Proudhon and even a Saint have held to this position, though Marx (surprisingly!) disagreed with it on the grounds that it assumed the existence of property and so was self-refuting.

Brissot de Warville has also written, in his Philosophical Researches on the Right of Property, "Exclusive property is a robbery in nature".

There is a short article on the Glasgow anarchist about this concept - Property is theft! Proudhon 200 years on

Of course, the economist has a contradictory article called "imitating property is theft". Counterfeiting | Imitating property is theft | Economist.com

This thread is for debate on the philosophical and theoretical justifications on private property. It is NOT for silly one-liners about society falling apart.

[Munion]

Private property is the cornerstone of any functioning society.

[cd27]

Taxation is theft because it involves taking private property.

If there was no private property, how do you think society would function? If someone came in to your house and started taking your stuff how do you think you'd react? Calling the police would be no good because you're an anarchist!

[markeys]

Where would all this leave intellectual property rights? I mean, if you come up with an idea, is it really yours? Do you take credit for it? Do you actually 'own' that idea?

[Munion]

Taxation is theft because it involves taking private property.

If there was no private property, how do you think society would function? If someone came in to your house and started taking your stuff how do you think you'd react? Calling the police would be no good because you're an anarchist!

It's one of the main stumbling blocks towards obtaining true socialism.

Socialism only works in a post-scarcity society i.e. there's no point in taking someone elses stuff when you can just walk into a general store and take what you need.

The retort is that socialism will reduce waste and inefficiency to a neglible level, thereby creating a post-scarcity society.

They never discuss the difficulties during the intervening period and what happens if their assumption that socialism brings about a post-scarcity society is wrong.

[sparkey321]

Many thinkers, such as Proudhon and even a Saint have held to this position, though Marx (surprisingly!) disagreed with it on the grounds that it assumed the existence of property and so was self-refuting.

Brissot de Warville has also written, in his Philosophical Researches on the Right of Property, "Exclusive property is a robbery in nature".

There is a short article on the Glasgow anarchist about this concept - Property is theft! Proudhon 200 years on

Of course, the economist has a contradictory article called "imitating property is theft". Counterfeiting | Imitating property is theft | Economist.com

WTF.......

So lets say you work hard and save and buy a car. Nothing fancy just a car but its yours.

Now imagine some guy down the road, dropped out of school at 15 and has been drawing the dole since decides that he wants it. He walks in your front door, takes the keys and drives off.

Is that theft ?

Was it committed by you or by him ?

[sarahj]

Private property is the cornerstone of any functioning society.

No no no no no....private property is the cornerstone of any functioning capitalist society. That's why capitalism needs contracts - to defend private property.

[cd27]

Socialism only works in a post-scarcity society .

Paul Daniels here thinks he can abolish scarcity! good one

[sarahj]

WTF.......

So lets say you work hard and save and buy a car. Nothing fancy just a car but its yours.

Now imagine some guy down the road, dropped out of school at 15 and has been drawing the dole since decides that he wants it. He walks in your front door, takes the keys and drives off.

Is that theft ?

Was it committed by you or by him ?

I don't think you read the links or understand the concept. Try reading them.

[Munion]

Where would all this leave intellectual property rights? I mean, if you come up with an idea, is it really yours? Do you take credit for it? Do you actually 'own' that idea?

They'll say that as society gave you your education and provided all material support to you in your life up to the point where you had the idea, that society owns your idea.

Maybe own is the wrong word but definitely society would have a stake in the idea.