Friday, April 19, 2013
"Culture of Theft"
Okay, so in class on Tuesday we talked about how, when placed in a society with no legal framework for redistributing resources to make sure everyone can survive, theft becomes allowable when done to survive, and if the thief does not get caught. We also mentioned how this actually makes for a functional and survivable society, but that we today would consider this sort of behavior not only illegal by our laws, but also wrong, since we punish theft. However, one wonders what would change if we were to adopt such a "culture of theft" in today's world. If it became a matter of just not getting caught when stealing in order to survive, one wonders if there would be fewer people going hungry on the streets. In some ways, having a general rule of "just don't get caught" could be seen as a sort of skill-based social well-fare: if you're smart or talented enough to get it, it's yours, and you just won your survival for another couple of days. Any thoughts on how having this kind of culture in modern day would change things or not change them?
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Well, I know in some European countries trespassing does not exist. Anyone is allowed to hunt, fish, etc. on any land, probably so long as no humans are harmed in the process. I believe this allows people to survive in more of a hunter-gatherer way if they desire than in an economic world where getting ahead is short-lived and near-impossible. I know it's not exactly the same thing, but it gives people who don't mesh well within society the chance to continue surviving without violating any religious or societal laws. While a society where theft was allowable would allow some to survive, I believe this system would probably be more effective and is much more fair.
ReplyDeleteGreat question, and Alison's reply is suggestive. While a free-for-all culture of theft seems very unstable, and not a desirable approach, there are a wide variety of ways a society could re-conceive the notion of property that might foster greater social justice. Our (historically odd) fascination with property -- especially real estate -- as absolute and exclusive is not necessarily the healthiest way to do things.
ReplyDeleteI feel as though this would alter society greatly. I suppose the whole "survival of the fittest" thing would come into play; those who are more skilled thieves would make it farther in life thus leading to better and better thieves in coming generations. However, what then, would be the use of money if one could just steal anything they desired? And who would make anything anymore if it was all stolen? Would things not need to be made and produced? I always wondered about these things.
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