11/2 Property

PROPERTY

Property is quite the concept as there are various ways in which it can be applied. It simple terms, property is something that is owned. One has authority over another item or in some instances, another person, and that is where things get dicey. Slaves were considered to be property and for some people, woman are still viewed as being the property of a man. For generations, owning property was one of the only ways to have/show your authority. Property owners were amongst the few that had the right to vote. Not everyone believed that ownership of property was enough. John Locke said that people should only be able to own land IF they labor over it. If the landed isn’t being used to produce something, then the owner should not have the right to keep it from others, which I don’t necessarily agree with.

Intellectual property can also be a point of contention for many. Personal thoughts and inventions can fall under this section. When something is invented, one of the first things the inventor does is get it patented. This way the ownership of the product or idea is theirs, adding a layer of protection for their self interest, allowing them to continue to improve said thing. A famous inventor by the name of Benjamin Franklin did not patent his ideas because he felt that if his idea was worthy, then others should be allowed to continue to improve upon it.

I don’t know if I would agree with this process either though unless I had the rights to the product. Others can improve what they want, but as long as they are using my original concept, I should be awarded some type of payout. I’m not sure if that is what Franklin did or not, but I know I would if I invented something, especially if there was a large impact on society.

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