Do we own the world? Do humans own the world?

Question

I ask because we seem to use and abuse, take and not act responsibly!

We seem to have forgotten we are part of a very complex system and not above it.

Nice sitting on the fence Mr Cautious

The second question was meant to explain the We from the first question...sorry.

Answer 1

Nobody and nothing "owns" the world.

We (humans) often perceive that we have ownership or control over the planet but that is an illusion. Most mainstream religions state that god gave man "stewardship" or "dominion" over the planet .. but that is also an illusion.

As a number of people have adroitly pointed out ... when we consider our role in the life of the planet (i.e. in geological time-scales), it becomes apparent that we are no more significant than any other organism.

If we impact the climate, for example, it will react and when we are long gone, the earth will still be here .. tending toward a state of equilibrium as it has alwasy done.

Answer 2

Some people (no need to refer names) think they do own the world,not even earth but the whole universe. But the truth is that we are just a pale blue dot into the vast galaxies.We are just dust as part of something bigger and inexplicable. Might be a place that some other superior beings control and experiment!

Answer 3

We don't own the world, we do have responsibility for the earth. We live on the earth and have a right to claim some of its produce for ourselves. Our intelligence and sense of right and wrong give us the ability to recognise that we should only take what we need. Biologically we must leave enough for our dependents and other life on earth. Other cultures have also discovered this.

Answer 4

Ownership is natural and vital to humanity. In a different answer to your question--more literal than the secular philosophs--yes, humans do own the world. And you are part of "humans" so I don't understand your two questions, unless you're trying to suggest that "we" and "humans" are separate. Oh, but what is human? what is free will: is it free will when you say "no," or is it someone else's version of "no?" I'll regret Freud and Marx for the rest of my life.

Answer 5

I remember in the film Croc Dundee when talking about Aboriginal land rights Mick said..."See that rock over there...its been there for 60 million years....seem silly to argue about who owns it"

Answer 6

nope. the world owns the world. people have come up with laws and legal stuff over the years to make society etc. but i believe the land belongs to the land and people have got to be kind to it. we dont deserve anything - just treat it with respect and do what we can to survive with causing as little damage as possible.

Answer 7

no. ownership is an intra species dialogue about rights and duties with respect to objects and concepts.

i dont see how this relates to environmentalism, owners or not the condition of the planet is not a duty we owe to anyone, it is a basic requirment for survival.

Answer 8

No one owns the world. Property is unnatural, a fabricated construct. Your question is misleading.

Answer 9

if you believe that there is someone HIGHER than humans then we don´t own the world we are just keepers of it but if you believe that nobody is above us then we are responsible of keeping it safe and going.

Answer 10

It's really a question worth debating. nobody owns the world. it's OUR world. we all live for ourselves, and u cannot take anyone for granted. yeah there are some who rule us but no one really OWNS us...