What is self-ownership?

Self-ownership is the exclusive control of one’s own body.

Why do people own themselves?

Self-ownership means you have the most legitimate claim to your own body and others cannot control you or any part of your body without your consent (live). This is presuming you are also not attempting to control another’s body without their consent (let live).

In other words:

• to ‘live’ is to be in charge of your life. That requires being in charge of your body and property, and
• to ‘let live’ is to allow other competent adults to do the same. This enables liberty.

If Alessandro accepts that Bethany has the authority to control her own body without interference by anyone else, so long as Bethany accepts the same towards others, Alessandro has acknowledged the concept of self-ownership.

Respecting self-ownership in our interactions with others leads to self-sovereignty.

Two feedback loops

Freedom → peace → love → (sustains freedom)

• Love and goodwill between people reinforces the commitment to protect each other’s freedom, sustaining the conditions that make peace possible.

Coercion → resentment → fear → (more coercion)

• Fear pushes people to seek control over others as protection out of self-preservation. This leads to more coercion and a sustaining cycle.