Single Idea 22775

[catalogued under 25. Social Practice / C. Rights / 4. Property rights]

Full Idea

That a thing belongs to a person who happens to be the first to take possession of it is immediately self-evident. …This is not because he is the first, but because he is a free will.

Gist of Idea

The owner of a thing is obviously the first person to freely take possession of it

Source

Georg W.F.Hegel (Elements of the Philosophy of Right [1821], 050)

Book Reference

Hegel,Georg W.F.: 'Elements of the Philosophy of Right', ed/tr. Wood,Allen W. [CUP 1991], p.81


A Reaction

At this time they were very conscious of the native Americans. They seem to have lost their lands because they had no institution of private property, and had not asserted their ownership. I suspect Hegel of endorsing this.