People generally are neither self-critical nor self-aware. People have an intrinsic, innate, “natural”, sense-of-self and autonomy. This is why it makes sense to say such things as “my food”, “my teddy bear”, “my friend”, “my house”, etc. Possession is a very powerful and profound concept. It signifies Authority, most of which goes unspoken. People have a sixth-sense when it comes to Authority, Ownership, Responsibility, and Assets. People try to be ‘respectful’ to each-other, but, freedom and liberty are trampled all the time, everyday. Everybody steps on everybody’s toes. Everybody breathes each-other’s air. There’s not enough for everybody, not enough to go around. This produces conflict, competition, and fighting. A shared claim: “this is mine – No! it’s mine!” results in conflict. When a child is kidnapped, it is because the child is possessed/owned/guarded, whatever you want to call it, by the parents, and especially the mother. A child is a bodily-extension of the mother.
The fact that most of you can sit here, deny it, pretend it doesn’t exist, or discount it, speaks to the truth of the matter. It runs deeper than most care to admit.
In response to Fixed Cross, Self-Ownership comes first. You cannot “own another”, or anything, without first owning some small aspect of ‘Self’. This is the root of Ego, “I”, “You”, identity, itself.
Do you own your own memories??? Let that sink in. How philosophical do you want to get? How philosophical can you get?
The term “throw em to the wolves” literally comes from Sparta and Greece, yes indeed.
You need to “own-yourself” before you can ever hope to own anything else. Maybe, most people don’t? Most people do not own-themselves, but are instead, owned by others? Consider that option. The State? God? The Heavenly Father? Call it what you will.