3 ms·

"Land ownership" or "territory" is a fundamental concept of life - Plants, bacteria, fungi, insects, and animals all establish territories which they defend aga

"Land ownership" or "territory" is a fundamental concept of life - Plants, bacteria, fungi, insects, and animals all establish territories which they defend against competitors which often include conspecifics. Obviously not every single type of critter does this, but many do.

gizajob 3y ago
“Land ownership” is a contractual and statutory invention of the human race, and only a recent invention amongst certain parts of our species. No other animal “owns” land or tries to enforce their ownership via the courts or with statutes if that fails. Animals are just ‘on’ the land, and either they’re thriving, being predated, or not. Same as dolphins don’t own the sea they swim around in.
- xkcd-sucks 3y ago
  Of course "legal ownership" is by definition statutory, but non-humans territorial behavior is essentially the same as human ownership behavior in the absence of courts: As a few examples of many, a mountain lion resident in an area will fight and attempt to remove other mountain lions that aren't established residents and will also kill coyotes etc.; black walnut trees poison the soil around them to prevent other plants from moving in, etc.
  - myshpa 3y ago
    > non-humans territorial behavior is essentially the same as human ownership behavior Every individual in nature has to find it's own space and protect it, agreed. But their young don't inherit their claims, as humans do. https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-REB-35714 https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-REB-35714 The Wealthy in Florence Today Are the Same Families as 600 Years Ago Researchers compared data on Florentine taxpayers in 1427 against tax data in 2011 and found about 900 surnames still present in Florence
  - gizajob 3y ago
    Those organisms don't draw lines on maps and issue passports.

3 ms·

"Land ownership" or "territory" is a fundamental concept of life - Plants, bacteria, fungi, insects, and animals all establish territories which they defend aga

by xkcd-sucks 3y ago

gizajob 3y ago
“Land ownership” is a contractual and statutory invention of the human race, and only a recent invention amongst certain parts of our species. No other animal “owns” land or tries to enforce their ownership via the courts or with statutes if that fails. Animals are just ‘on’ the land, and either they’re thriving, being predated, or not. Same as dolphins don’t own the sea they swim around in.
- xkcd-sucks 3y ago
  Of course "legal ownership" is by definition statutory, but non-humans territorial behavior is essentially the same as human ownership behavior in the absence of courts: As a few examples of many, a mountain lion resident in an area will fight and attempt to remove other mountain lions that aren't established residents and will also kill coyotes etc.; black walnut trees poison the soil around them to prevent other plants from moving in, etc.
  - myshpa 3y ago
    > non-humans territorial behavior is essentially the same as human ownership behavior Every individual in nature has to find it's own space and protect it, agreed. But their young don't inherit their claims, as humans do. https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-REB-35714 https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-REB-35714 The Wealthy in Florence Today Are the Same Families as 600 Years Ago Researchers compared data on Florentine taxpayers in 1427 against tax data in 2011 and found about 900 surnames still present in Florence
  - gizajob 3y ago
    Those organisms don't draw lines on maps and issue passports.