Is self-ownership a misnomer?

re: Is self-ownership a misnomer?

Theosownsall — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 19:38:36 GMT

If the soul exists it is not a misnomer; if God exists it is. Frankly, all self-ownership is trying to convey is what people call the will - it is a statment of natural fact - it states the obvious. It says nothing of how or why it should be a 'right' or how one should act in relation to other rights that conflict. If there are no objective moral values (and I think there is not if God does not exist) then it is all about who has the stronger will - thats it - and if you can enslave people then so be it. You evaluate the risks and rewards and seek to proceed or not proceed to enslave. You can't just say 'you can't enslave people' - sure you can, its been done many a time.

re: Is self-ownership a misnomer?

Attackdonkey — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 20:35:40 GMT

Oh I forgot, what I was going to ask you about is the Mises U.

Have you ever been? would you go? give me your thoughts.

re: Is self-ownership a misnomer?

Attackdonkey — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 20:35:02 GMT

There's two ways to look at it. The first is what Yancy says, which is such a foreign concept, that we use the idea of self ownership to keep others from claiming ownership over others. it is a retainer of sorts.

The other way is to simply say there is a duality. That the spirit and the body are separate. This shouldn't be any big stretch of the imagination and it is implied that there is something about us which is not our body, for we say things like you can't attack my body... or they will bury my body, and so on..

re: Is self-ownership a misnomer?

Brainpolice — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 06:22:03 GMT

Technically I don't define self-ownership as axoimatic. That's half the point of this very post.

re: Is self-ownership a misnomer?

anarcho-mercantilist — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 03:26:17 GMT

Those who define self-ownership as axiomatic would oppose voluntary slavery because it contradicts self-ownership. Murray N. Rothbard, Alex Strekal, Geoffrey Allen Plauche and Roderick T. Long expressly opposes voluntary slavery. The Ethics of Liberty by Murray Rothbard argues against the existence of slave contracts: mises.org/.../nineteen.asp

re: Is self-ownership a misnomer?

atrickpay — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 21:10:05 GMT

I think Yancey might be onto something...

Asserting that an individual cannot be owned by something external might be a better way of putting it.

Btw, do you guys think "self-ownership" is axiomatic (that is a self-evident truth)?

re: Is self-ownership a misnomer?

Nitroadict — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:19:24 GMT

Most likely; but like all misnomers, it has it's purpose as a label. I do think that though that in light of this post, a more accurate term may be needed to avoid the problems in using such a misnomer.

Hmm...

re: Is self-ownership a misnomer?

Yancey Ward — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 20:25:40 GMT

Why talk of self-ownership at all? Simply assert that you cannot be owned.

re: Is self-ownership a misnomer?

Brainpolice — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:34:14 GMT

*prepares for the bombardment* I'm sure I offended someone or will be misunderstood.