3 ms·
You don't own the text, but you do own the manifestation of the text as a physical book. Sure the text doesn't magical stay with you after a fire burns down you
by ruph123 4y ago
You don't own the text, but you do own the manifestation of the text as a physical book. Sure the text doesn't magical stay with you after a fire burns down your house (like all other items in your house) and it isn't eternal (like all other things aren't) but as long as you don't damage the item you own, it has value: the text.
Weired argument to say that you don't own a thing because it can be damaged or fall apart. You own it even if it is damaged by the way. The paper shreds after the fire are still yours.
- gcanyon 4y agoI should have been more clear in the final paragraph. I didn't mean you don't own the physical copy of the book. I meant you don't own the text itself. Rephrasing: It's a distinction without (much of) a difference, since the paperback will outlive you and probably your grandchildren, but [the paperback is] not eternal, and so technically you don't own [the text of the book], the same way you don't own [the text of the book when you only have] digital copies. The time frame over which you don't own [the text of the book] is just longer.