Is that sandwich you’re holding really yours?

There isn’t just one way to ‘own’ something. When most people think about ownership, they think about a tangible object that was obtained in some way, usually with money. Others believe they can only own non tangible things like a personality or thoughts. On the other hand, can we really own something? By definition, we can; we own books and laptops and houses and such because it’s just easier to communicate with each other this way. What if we think about ownership in the early years of this planet? Nobody owned anything at all. This idea includes other creatures as well; we can see them being protective over kin and territory, but they can’t claim something is theirs. The definition of ownership constantly changes depending on the person you ask. Their definition provides an idea as to what kind of person they are and what role they play in life.

Defining oneself has everything to do with outlooks on life and situations. Someone more closed minded may think that they can own anything that they can touch and anything can be bought if they have enough money; anything can be obtained. For example, they may want to buy something that others believe is immoral to own or have, such as exotic animals. Someone like this may be described as self-important and arrogant. To this kind of person, money and ownership means power and status; ownership means tangible things.

On the opposite side of things may be a person that believes we can’t truly own anything. Everything that exists today had come from the beginning of the planet and that objects belong to Earth. For example, things like raw materials, were not yet made into more complicated objects and did not really belong to any one individual. Objects are simply here to be borrowed during life and cannot truly be owned. To this person, maybe ownership means our mind. People can own personalities, morals, as well as thoughts and opinions. They would determine their self-worth based on their personality and beliefs rather than tangible items.

I am more on this side of the spectrum. For simplicity sake, I believe we can ‘own’ certain tangible items such as clothes and pencils. People do not have the ability to own everything, including animals. We may take in an animal or two to take care of and provide companionship, but we do not own them. They are their own beings that deserve some amount of independence. In contrast, people can own their personality and thoughts. These things are unique to each individual, no matter how diverse or similar. Ultimately, nobody truly owns anything besides their ideas, personality and identity.

“Power Eating Sandwich 1080” by qubodup is licensed under CC BY 2.0