OWNERSHIP versus HIERARCHY: The Choice of The Dominant Method

The documented history of humanity is the history of mixing two methods of interaction and cooperation between humans: Ownership and Hierarchy, the former supporting control over resources distributed between the Owners and the latter supporting top-down control over resources. Historically the Hierarchy method had usually been dominant, with the Ownership method being quite limited. One of the few exceptions is the United States of America, in which the Ownership method was prevalent during the initial period of this society's existence.
This essay aims to insert into discussion the specific suggestion for change in the balance between Ownership and Hierarchy so that it would be most favorable for the pursuit of happiness by each individual as this individual understands it. The suggestion is to recognize the Common Inheritance of general know-how, narratives, language, and communication skills as quantifiable, equal, and unalienable individual property. After that, it would become possible to establish a process of compensation for the use of this property that would guarantee sufficient, even if unequal, returns on this property to individuals, not willing or unable to use it effectively, by others who are willing and able to use it better. These returns had to be unequal because, as with any other form of property, they will depend on the ability of individuals to manage it more or less efficiently.

Author: Simon Branzburg

Publisher: Independently Published

Publication Date: Feb 07, 2022

Number of Pages: 62 pages

Binding: Paperback or Softback

ISBN-10: NA

ISBN-13: 9798413929117