I love the ideal of freedom, NAP, and I wrestle with it continually. Self-ownership is interesting in terms of the makeup of what is meant by self; The micro-organisms are they slaves to this 'self'? I heard a man say, "Your body is not your slave, It is your friend." I like that. Perhapse that's not the self ownership you are talking about, but is it applicable? Someone slips and is leaning over the edge of a falling off place. An initiation of force springs from me before I am aware that I have pulled him back rudely from his own destination. He thanks me. A parent disciplines a child, or does not. Big brother says stop hitting yourself while forcing it's continuation. How can I hope to reproduce without the initiation of force against a leaf. "They started the nuclear exchange," is not satisfactory. I agree freedom should be taught and nurtured, I am trying to keep the belief, and I am struggling with it.
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Hi John, I appreciate you sharing your thoughts. It sounds like you, and most people, want more freedom yet are figuring out how to best achieve it. Self ownership is simply the recognition that you own yourself and your body, as it is your brain that ultimately controls your body and movements. The NAP is an ethical principle that follows from the understanding that each human owns themselves. Libertarians advocate for the adoption and application of the NAP to all human interactions, with the goal of encouraging peace and reducing violent conflict among humans. Pulling a man back to keep him slipping is trying to defend him from impending potential death and harm - not a violation of his persons or his will. Also the NAP is an ethical principle for humans because it isn't necessary for humans to harm each other for survival. Humans make their food from organic sources, such as plants or animals, to survive which is why the NAP is only applied to humans.