Re: Contract v. Property (was: Private Property and Capitalism)

GBurch1@aol.com
Sat, 19 Oct 1996 08:45:43 -0400


In a message dated 96-10-18 16:00:06 EDT, T.0. Morrow writes:

> But I regard neither real
> nor personal property as fundamental, since neither necessarily implies
> control. Rather, control of such ancillary types of property comes grace
of
> proximity, practice, and legal right.
>
> Self-ownership seems different. I own me because I alone control me. Or,
> more precisely, I control me more effectively than can any other person.

Well put, Tom. And herein is expressed, I think, the irreducible kernel of
morality that must lie at the foundation of any legal system compatible with
the basic values expressed by extropians: No matter what specific legal rules
we might develop by agreement, transgression of self-control is the greatest
evil, respect for it the greatest good.

Greg Burch <GBurch1@aol.com> <burchg@liddellsapp.com>
http://users.aol.com/gburch1 or http://members.aol.com/gburch1
"There is no such thing as justice in the abstract; it is merely a compact
between men." -- Epicurus