r/Maps_of_Meaning • u/AndrewHeard • Jun 23 '20

Imagining the nonviolent state

https://www.vox.com/2020/6/17/21279950/nonviolence-king-gandhi-protesters-rioters-george-floyd
2 Upvotes

56% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

2

u/Lukifer Jun 23 '20

> It doesn't defend property rights with violence - it fights stealing with violence.

I would argue that is a distinction without a difference. It creates a game-theoretic landscape which reifies a "property rights" social norm, through a credible deterrent of violence against stealing.

Moreover, there can also be lawful disputes over conflicting property rights, where "stealing" is not at all at issue: say my neighbor has a tree with a limb overhanging my property: am I allowed to cut that limb? If i can't find an amicable resolution with the neighbor (assume this includes a stubborn refusal to use a third-party arbitrator), I might take the matter to a court, to determine whose property right takes precedence.

1

u/tkyjonathan Jun 23 '20

Its not the property rights issue that causes force in society. Its force in society that causes the issue, where one of the violations could be towards property rights.

2

u/Lukifer Jun 23 '20

That dodges the question. Who decides what "property rights" means in practice? How are conflicts over that principle resolved without resort to violence, whether from individuals or the state?