"What is at the root of self-ownership?"
Self-ownership is the assertion that one is responsible for one's actions and the direct consequences of one's actions. This is a both a tautological redundancy and a self-evident statement. If one is to rationally function in the real world one must inherently accept the idea of self-ownership. If I strangle a hobo, it is commonly understood that I get punished and not my hands, as I own my hands and all the actions they perform. Moreover I also must own the death of the hobo as that is the direct result of my actions.
To state "I do not own myself" is to be committing a performative contradiction. One must first claim self-ownership in order to then claim one rejects self-ownership. Furthermore, if one claims to reject self-ownership or that humans do not possess it, who does? That is, who is responsible for the actions of immoral and wicked actions if not the individuals who are committing the actions? God, Mother Nature, the collective, Shiva, Buddha, Jesus Christ? Someone must be held accountable for evil. Diffusion of responsibility is one of the greatest scourges to plague humanity and has allowed for the most horrific atrocities. When everyone is to blame, no one is to blame. The assumption of individual self-ownership is the foundation of a civilized society.
"Whose property is my body? Probably mine. I so regard it. If I experiment with it, who must be answerable? I, not the State. If I choose injudiciously, does the State die? Oh, no." Mark Twain
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My name is Danilo Cuellar. Follow me at Peaceful Anarchism. I also run the Peaceful Anarchism Facebook page and produce many YouTube videos. You can support and donate to my work through Patreon or PayPal. I’m a practitioner of Eastern Healing arts with degrees in Acupuncture and Chinese medicinal herbs, I have always questioned the status quo, a path which led me to peaceful anarchism. Through my journey, I have worn many hats, that of a classical pianist, avid chess player, philosopher, comedian, and now father of two little anarchists. My wife brands me as a Cultural Critic, but I am simply following my thirst for knowledge and passion for writing.