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“The emergence of the online sharing economy calls to mind the Socratic desire to abolish ownership with the goal of ending competition and discord. But, as Aristotle reminds us, this is a corrosive vision that would exacerbate rather than mitigate conflict” - Public Discourse

Discussion

Fri, 06/24/22

Aristotle believes that civil society (where private property can be owned) is where citizens learn the virtues of generosity and moderation, which are likely to reduce conflict. On the other hand, Socrates’ abolition of private property makes citizens unable to determine their personal interests and thereby leads them to immoderate behavior.

There really aren’t very many “new” ideas.

Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.

Mon, 06/27/22

If sharing economies led to an end to strife and discord, please explain to me what I read about way too often about how things go down on the city bus. Just sayin’. If I lived in a city where everything I needed to do was a convenient and safe walk, bike ride, or bus ride, I might be willing to forego my personal car. I pretty much did in college.

But that noted, I’ve ridden transit enough and driven enough rental cars to realize that (Aristotle aside) there are a host of reasons I like to have my own vehicle. Cleanliness (there’s that city bus again), safety, reliability, economy, and more. The world has tried sharing economies in the old Warsaw Pact—we know how that one turned out.

Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.