Civil Discourse: Property Rights

[smoothmoniker]

Civil Discourse: Property Rights

This is an appeal to the better angels of our nature. I believe that The Cellar is capable of reasoned, meaningful discussion on important topics. Here's your chance to prove it.

The topic for this Civil Discourse is "Property Rights".

"Property" consists of a set of rights, or prerogatives, over a thing. These include the right of use, right of refusal (preventing others from use), right of modification, right of destruction. Those rights can be transferred to others for a limited time (lending/leasing) or permanently (giving/selling).

So here is the question: are property rights natural rights or social convention?

Natural rights are universal, inalienable, and usually self-evident. Examples might be the right of free speech, or the right to be free from physical violence.

Social conventions exist only because we all agree that they should exist, usually because they are useful and efficient ways of managing complex systems. Examples might be driving on the right or left side of the road, the value of money, or social manners.

So which kind of thing are property rights?