On Tue, Nov 05, 2002 at 03:07:28PM -0500, craig duncan wrote:
A big thing associated with anarchy is the notion that there is no property.No property, yes. But lots of "personal possession". On a small scale, the difference is essentially nil. On a larger scale, the difference is quite dramatic. For instance, our ownership of our code, under the anarchist concept of possession, is exactly the same as the current concept of property. But if you start talking about possession of 100 acres of land, or a large factory, thats a whole 'nother kettle of fish.If not for personal possession, what would the anarchists be meaning when they say that people have the right to the product of their labor?Interesting question/point. My first inclination was to think that the idea of "no property" (taken in an absolute sense) was rather a flawed concept. My second inclination (after reading what you wrote) was to think that the clarification you made is quite necessary... and a relatively reasonable way of looking at things. My third inclination, though, is to sense that there is something a little contradicatory -- or at least amorphous -- about this conceptualization of the issue. As if it really hasn't been clearly thought out.
It's been clearly thought out, but we run into the problem Orwell
identified in 1984, and that Chomsky has spoken about. That is, people
see things in a certain frame of reference. It is REALLY HARD to
formulate your position in a few sentences without sounding off the wall
when that position is diametrically opposed to peoples current
perceptions.
If you can think of a way to express this clearly, I would be grateful.
I have almost concluded that I have to avoid the word "property"
entirely... Capitalist society has has defined the terms in such a way
that expressing the anarchist/socialist viewpoint and being understood
is a Herculean task.
Jonathan
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