The Myth of Property Rights

Bry Willis from "Philosophics Blog" critiques the historical and philosophical underpinnings of private property rights, particularly as conceptualised by John Locke. The author challenges Locke's "first-come, first-served" justification for land ownership, arguing that it is arbitrary and exclusionary, especially given that most land was already claimed when many people came into existence. The piece introduces Parfit's long-termism to highlight the inherent temporal and speciesist biases within traditional property concepts, suggesting that current generations' stewardship often depletes resources at the expense of future generations and non-human life. Ultimately, the text dismisses the notion that "mixing one's labour" with land magically confers ownership, advocating for a re-evaluation of resource justice and the morality of private property.https://philosophics.blog/2025/06/11/parfits-long-termism-and-property-rights/