What does it mean to you when you own something? Is it the gratification that makes it rewarding? Or is it the cost and struggle it took to buy it? Or how about what others think about your object? Ownership and sense of self comes together as a perception of how we see ourself being an owner.
Buying something from a store or from a person makes it yours. When you buy something you’re paying for it in money that you earned which then makes it yours. People might say if they take an object or find it, the object then belongs to them. They would be wrong since it would still belong to that person even though they have it in their possession.
Ownership is important in a way that makes it a part of you. Mortimer J. Adler wrote, “Full
Ownership is the act and state of having something in control or possession. Aristotle claims that owning tangible objects help to build moral character, while Jean-Paul Sartre proposes that ownership extends beyond to include intangible things such as skill or knowledge. Different objects can have varying effects on the development of self identity, leading us to who we grow as a person. A sense of self can be a reflection to what we own, whether it is a tangible or not. Ownership of intangible and tangible objects play a vital role for the growth of self identity, as it teaches crucial morals in life to develop personal character.
Anywhere in the world, someone acquires something, whether it be money, a car, or even an idea. We can “own” many intangible and tangible items in life, but how does ownership relate to a sense and development of self? This question has been constantly answered for centuries through intelligent people like Plato, Aristotle, and Jean-Paul Sartre. However, the question has received no agreeable answer. In the end, people will agree that there is a strong and positive relationship between ownership and a sense of self because the things you own will define and develop who you are positively by exhibiting what you like, what you can and cannot do, and in the end, characterizes you, as long as you use the things you own properly.
Property: The right to claim and hold property; When it has been laboured for, one encloses it for greater individual profit the profit of the community of Man, it has been laboured for – Natural means of ownership one encloses it – The process of holding legal “deed” for greater individual profit – to build investment equity and avoid poverty of waste the profit of the community of Man – Moral commitment to Human Development (Locke: 1689).
The relationship between our identities and possessions remains on going. In fact, Joan Kron elaborates on that matter in her essay The Semiotics of Home Décor and mentions how we barely know what is actually beyond our home décor and possessions (74). Kron argues that our possessions and home décor grants us with various aims that cater to our human needs “Our possessions give us a sense of security and stability. They make us feel in control…we use things to compete.” (75). Also, Kron talks about status and how its vitality is depicted through our possessions. Something as simple as the price tag, the originality and rareness of the object and its competence can say something about our status. With this in mind, Kron asserts that “Some objects
The ability to have ownership over something, tangible or not, can give a person a sense of value or superiority when comparing themselves to others. Furthermore, as humans, it is easy to desire things as one’s own and claim it, but the way something is treated differs from person to person. As a result, the material items and skills a person has ownership over provides a glimpse of his or her’s true nature.
When the topic of owning something comes up, the conversation can go two ways: one may argue that ownership is owning an object, many other people, such as Jean-Paul Sartre believe that you can own something by becoming an expert in a certain skill and knowing something thoroughly.It's possible to own an idea or a skill, such as my idea about ownership, and to own a tangible object, such as a book. The verb " to own" doesn't just mean to physically have something, it also means to know something, or to make something a part of ourselves.
Anywhere in the world, someone acquires something, whether it be money, a car, or even an idea. We can “own” many intangible and tangible items in life, but how does ownership relate to a sense of self? This question has been constantly answered for centuries through intelligent people like Plato, Aristotle, and Jean-Paul Sartre. However, the question has received no agreeable answer. In the end, people will agree that there is a strong and positive relationship between ownership and a sense of self because the things you own will define and develop who you are positively by exhibiting what you like, what you can and cannot do, and in the end, characterizes you, as long as you use the items you own properly.
American business man and former politician, Chris Chocola, told Times Magazine. “And I would argue that the second greatest force in the universe is ownership.” In today’s society, a person’s worth and value is generally based on how much he or she owns. Those in the higher social classes typically own more prestigious objects; such as large houses, nice cars, and the most expensive brands of clothing. While those who lie at the bottom of the social pyramid are stereotyped as living in beat up trailers, driving dinky cars, and wearing the same shirt more than twice a week. As humans, we are so quick to judge others solely based on what they own. We admire those who have more than us, and act better than those who have less than us. Ownership is directly correlated with one’s self identity and how he or she feels about the world. The objects a person owns can give him or her an elevated ego, change the way he or she handles different life situations, and help shape his or her personality in very specific ways.
Once you own something, don't you care more about it (just because it is yours). Think about it, if your friend has a new Xbox One you are still going to take care of it. But, if you own a new Xbox One, aren't you going to take care of it more carefully? Just because it is yours, you are going to be more careful and care about it a lot more. Owning something, takes control of who you are. The more you own, the more stressed out you are going to be, because you care about more things more
Now, let’s be honest. Kids living in this generation can’t stand not owning things that they want. That is not all that surprising as it can be proven through the essay, “The Tyranny of Things” by Woodbridge Morris. Woodbridge Morris proves the point that over consuming can lead to addiction and that addiction can change people’s everything. The author, Woodbridge Morris, builds an argument to persuade her readers that possessions are oppressive through examples, reasoning, and experiences.
We measured it and broke it up. We were born on it, and we got killed on it, died on it. Even if it's no good, it's still ours. That's what makes it ours—being born on it, working it, dying on it. That makes ownership, not a paper with numbers on it” (5.33).
I believe ownership plays a vital role in relationships because people tend to look at the items a person has over his or her personality. For example, a friend of mine was in a relationship with a girl who used him for his money. As soon as he realized he was getting used, he broke it off. I strongly believe a person should be in a relationship with
Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the word own as, “to have power or mastery over,“ this mean anyone who owns something, has the power to do what they want with it. We must first ask, who gives us the power to own something? Is it the government? Is it our peers? Is it ourselves? These are the questions that must be answered to say who owns anything at all. The correct answer would be that it is a combination between the three, that we as a society are the ones to say who owns something.
What defines a possession? And what does ‘owning’ something do to, or for, you? Importance of the things that you own can vary on importance; usually depending on price, age, who payed for it, or if it was given to you. Aristotle, Jean-Paul, and Plato all have many different views on possessions. Aristotle argued that our possessions defined us and made us who we are and help develop our moral character.
William James, known as the “philosopher of America” (Kaila & Kovailanen, 2011), had his own perspective on ownership. In 1918 he described acquisitiveness as “an instinct, something that is part of human nature, present at birth and with us throughout life. This instinct contributes to our sense of self. What is ‘me’ fuses with what is ‘mine,’ and our ‘self’ consists of what we possess” (Frost and Steketee, pp. 48). It seems that even this brilliant mind, who has been considered the father of American psychology, believed that collecting things is a part of human nature. In the western culture, society views the prominent and affluent people as those with large houses, fancy cars, and expensive things, yet those who take attainment