more from G.A. Cohen

Single Idea 21735

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

Full Idea

In the prehistory of anything that is now private property there was at least one moment at which something privately unowned was taken into private ownership.

Gist of Idea

Every thing which is now private started out as unowned

Source

G.A. Cohen (Are Freedom and Equality Compatible? [1986], 2)

Book Reference

'Contemporary Political Philosophy (2nd ed)', ed/tr. Goodin,RE/Pettit,P [Blackwell 2006], p.418


A Reaction

He is obviously talking about land and natural resources. Presumably a table which I made and own was always private property, although the land where the trees were grown was not. Though in some communities what I make could be automatically communal.