Exploitation
Published on Mar 30, 2024, filed under philosophy, misc, advocacy (feed). (Share this on Mastodon or Bluesky?)
Whatâs easiest to take advantage of and exploit?
Natural resources. Theyâre just there, defenseless, and can be extracted as the terrain allows it. (Even better when they regenerate.)
Whatâs next easiest?
Animals. Many canât defend themselves, either, canât talk, seem inferior, and can be captured, held in captivity, and force-reproduced, used, and killed with little to no limitations.
Whatâs next?
Dependent people. People whose basic needs arenât met and people in precarious living situations are easy to extract labor from, while everyoneâs 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 didnât allow natural resources to be owned, if we didnât allow for animals to be owned, if we didnât 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.
⧠Whatâs the alternative? Iâm not sure if this has been answered (this is my personal site, where I reserve the right to be ignorantâand appreciate being corrected). If I was to attempt an answer, the insight that our own well-being is linked to everyoneâs well-being as well as the notion of revokable stewardship look relevant and important.
About Me
Iâm Jens (long: Jens Oliver Meiert), and Iâm a web developer, manager, and author. Iâve been working as a technical lead and engineering manager for companies youâve never heard of and companies you use every day, Iâm an occasional contributor to web standards (like HTML, CSS, WCAG), and I write and review books for OâReilly 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. (I value you being critical, interpreting charitably, and giving feedback.)