Exploitation

Published on March 30, 2024, filed under and (RSS feed for all categories).

What’s easiest to take advantage of and exploit?

Natural resources. They’re just there, defenseless, and can be extracted as the terrain allows it. (Even better when they regenerate.)

What’s next easiest?

Animals. Many can’t defend themselves, either, can’t talk, seem inferior, and can be captured, held in captivity, and force-reproduced, used, and killed with little to no limitations.

What’s next?

Dependent people. People whose basic needs aren’t met and people in precarious living situations are easy to extract labor from, while everyone’s less elastic needs and desires make it easier to extract wealth.

How can control over resources, animals, and people be justified, secured, and extended?

By the concept of property. If we didn’t allow natural resources to be owned, if we didn’t allow for animals to be owned, if we didn’t allow anything to be owned, it would seem hard to exploit anyone or anything, because without ownership, there can hardly be justification for exploitation. Exploitation would be easier to challenge, transform, or stop.

❧ What’s the alternative? I’m not sure if this has been answered (this is my personal site, where I reserve the right to be ignorant—and appreciate being corrected). If I was to attempt an answer, the insight that our own well-being is linked to everyone’s well-being as well as the notion of revokable stewardship look relevant and important.

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About Me

Jens Oliver Meiert, on November 9, 2024.

I’m Jens (long: Jens Oliver Meiert), and I’m a frontend engineering leader and tech author/publisher. I’ve worked as a technical lead for companies like Google and as an engineering manager for companies like Miro, I’m a contributor to several web standards, and I write and review books for O’Reilly and Frontend Dogma.

I love trying things, not only in web development (and engineering management), but also in other areas like philosophy. Here on meiert.com I share some of my experiences and views. (Please be critical, interpret charitably, and give feedback.)