> does one truly ever own their home?
Does one really ever own anything, if someone can just take it from them free and clear?
As I say, there's more than one philosophical perspective on this. I am not a philosopher, but here's my take on a few perspectives:
- Pragmatist: If the law says your average person can't roll in and take it, you own it.
- Libertarian: If the law says your average person can't roll in and take it, but corporations or HOA's or other entities tell you what you can and can't do with it, you don't own it.
- Tribalist: If there's no law, and you can slaughter anyone who tries to take it, you own it.
- Feudalist: If the law protects it, but the wealthy and powerful can just roll in and take it because they make the law, you own it. Until at least it becomes of value, then you can rent it back from its gracious new owners.
- Communalist: You don't own it, the community owns it, but they're happy to allocate it for your usage as long as you play by their rules.
- Common language: If you have a mortgage on it, you own it in the eyes of the law. If you stop paying the mortgage, or go into tax arrears, or at the victim of eminent domain, people can make it not-yours, but you still own it (for now).
- Expansionist: If you were there first, you own it. Unless your culture has no concept of ownership, in which case, you don't own it, but someone else soon will.