In my dining room, there is a rickety old piano. It’s brash, out of tune, and only one pedal works properly. I don’t complain though, because it was free. My parents got it from a man who was altogether tired of the thing, and now it sits in our dining room like a vigilant matron. When I have time, I sit down and stretch my fingers out over her yellowed keys. She sounds terrible. She sounds like jawbones through cheese graters, but I love her, she’s mine. No one ever gave her to me. No one sat down and said, “Would you like this piano for a special gift? She can be yours.” Nothing like that ever happened, but she is mine as sure as the sky. Why is she mine? Maybe it’s the countless hours I spent playing as a child. The first few halting steps …show more content…
The name isn’t important. What is important is the work that I did in order to own her. I have always been bad at math. Not just bad, but truly crippled when it comes to thinking in numbers. Through middle school, I never understood what was happening in math class. I came home crying because I could not comprehend pre-algebra. So, I worked harder. I came in early, after school, during recess and did math. I swear, that much math can damage a person. Bess is a physical symbol to me of my hard work. I own that calculator. I can do math, I’m not that bad at it anymore. When I look at my calculator, I remember that through hard-work, anything can be accomplished. Physical objects are just components of their spiritual traits. Bess is just a calculator, but she is mine because I have devoted myself to learning how to think in numbers. That calculator has contributed to my sense of self just as much as my piano. Similar to my piano, my ownership of Bess is just a way to describe the years of work that sculpted my …show more content…
It isn’t impressive to own a fancy violin until you can play it. The same goes for land. No one ever truly owns land, but if you work it and love it and pour your soul into it, it’s yours. In his novel, The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck said it this way, “Sure, cried the tenant men, but it’s our land…We were born on it, and we got killed on it, died on it. Even if it’s no good, it’s still ours…. That’s what makes ownership, not a paper with numbers on it." Ownership is so much more than buying something. There is a duality of a spiritual and physical nature in owning an object. Nothing is truly yours until you devote your soul to unlocking the music beneath the wood and
Examples of such viewpoints can be found through the works of many great thinkers throughout the centuries, some dating back to 400 years BCE. A Greek philosopher who developed his viewpoint on ownership was Plato. Plato, being the student of Socrates, was very well educated in philosophical thinking, and he applied his superior knowledge to an analysis of ownership. Plato’s views on ownership entailed the idea that owning objects is detrimental to a person 's character. He believed that the possession of materialistic goods actually damaged a person’s morality. Another Ancient Greek philosopher who would apply his knowledge to the relationship of ownership was Aristotle. Aristotle was Plato’s most successful and intelligent student. Aristotle used the knowledge he had acquired from his mentor to create his own viewpoints which completely contradicted the ideas laid out by Plato. Aristotle said that ownership of tangible goods helps to develop moral character. In other words, Aristotle believed that the possession of materialistic goods could, in fact, help in the development of one’s moral character. One of the more recent philosophers which will be discussed is Jean-Paul Sartre. Sartre believed that ownership extends beyond objects to include intangible things as well. In this way, Sartre is working very closely with the Theory of
It is often conceptualized that property is the rights of 'ownership'. In common law property is divided into real property, which is the interests in land and improvements there, and personal property, which are interests in anything other than real property. Personal property is divided into tangible property (such as a bike, car and clothse), and intangible property (such as bonds and stocks), which also includes intellectual property (copyrights, trademarks etc). The modern property rights conceive of possession and ownership as belonging to legal individuals, even if the individual is not a real person. Hence, governments, corporations and other collective forms of ownership are shown in terms of individual ownership.
Ownership is the act, state, or right of possessing something. Many people believe taking ownership is parallel to taking responsibility. In some cases, taking responsibility can be rewarding, but in other cases, it can be very self centered. According to Aristotle, ownership of tangible objects leads to develop moral character, even though it is not stated whether those morals are good or bad. Plato exaggerates how disparaging ownership can be to one's character and life. The affect ownership obtains on moral character is intensely detrimental.
Everyone has their treasured place, for Gil Maclean this was the farm. Gil Maclean “felt more present in the land than he did in his own flesh,”(Paragraph 4). Through this we can assume his land was more valuable to him than his own life, yet he still gives his property to Ronald. The author develops
In order to decide whether the term "owning" helps develop your moral character, you must first figure out what owning something means to you. To me, "owning something" applies to not only the tangible, like a shirt, but also the intangible, like knowing something so well you own it, or even owning a behavior.
Ownership is a claim living things make which expresses possession. It is a natural instinct to stake your claim, or in other words ‘mark your territory’, thus the action is highly visible in our lives. Ownership is commonly thought of in relation to possession of physical objects, but it can also relate to the possession of skills or ideas, a concept contemplated by philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre. The phenomenon of ownership has varying outcomes; in some cases possession brings forth unpleasant greed and malice. But at other times claiming objects or ideas increases personal pride, and increases ability, knowledge and camaraderie. Aristotle agrees with this, and theorizes that owning something positive boosts personal character. Contrastingly,
What is the relationship between ownership and self identity/development? This is a extremely complicated question. There are many theories trying to answer this question, such as, Plato 's claim the "owning objects is detrimental to a person 's character", whereas Aristotle argues that "ownership of tangible goods helps to develop moral character." To answer this question we must first ask, what is ownership? If this question is asked to friends, relatives, even strangers, we will receive many similar answers to this question. People will say something along the lines of, "the possession of an object" or "to be in control of something". However, we must then dive deeper into the question and ask ourselves, can we really possess an object if it can be taken
Property is a fear people have of losing. Physical property that you own isn’t always safe; it can be taken away in a matter of seconds. Less tangible possessions such as, someone’s independence, ideas, love, freedom, even respect and dignity is worth more of a scare. Dignity, worthiness, is what makes a person who they are. Respect, a person’s quality, is what gets a person to be who they are. Unfortunately, if a person is subtracted from both their dignity and respect, not always will they get it back.
In Jane Tompkins, A Life in School: What the Teacher Learned, Jane uncovers flaws in the American education system and how poorly formal education prepares pupils for careers after schooling. She describes how her teachers at P.S. 98 used authority to form the person she is now, teaching at Duke. Her experience dabbling in alternative teaching methods established the path she took throughout her career. Although Tompkins experience is atypical of most students, I agree with her argument about how fear is a successful means of motivation for those that can succumb to it, but alternatives exist that have been demonstrated and are successful.
In today’s society, materialistic objects are prized. We strive to gain a self-worth from the things we put our names to, whether it’s tangible or intangible. The term “ownership” can refer to many elements. I agree with Plato in that owning objects is an important factor in building one’s character but I also think that ownership extends beyond the tangible to talents and skill. Ultimately, ownership and the development of self are intricately intertwined, and our possessions often become fragile trophies of self-worth and achievement.
Bessemer is a city southwest of Birmingham in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States, eight miles (13 km) west of Hoover. The population was 27,456 at the 2010 Census. Bessemer Center for Technology is located on the campus of Bessemer City High School. Bessemer City operates its own school system independent of Jefferson County schools. Our student population is 1200 and each student receives free lunch. The median income for a household in the city was $23,066, and the median income for a family was $28,230. The per capita income for the city was $12,232. About 24.2% of families and 27.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.8% of those under age 18. As of the 2013 American Community Survey, there were 27,336 people
. It is impossible for any living organism to survive without owning anything. From insects to mankind, owning some sort of property, whether tangible or intangible, is our way of surviving. As the most complex of all living organisms, our expression and demands towards property and ownership vary numerously (LeFevre 1). In the “American Dream”, one of the main ideals is to be able to own a home or land. In August 2013, President Obama addresses the issues of modern economy and kick starts a new housing finance system. “Thanks to reforms of the financial system that cracked down on the most reckless practices that led to the housing crisis, responsible Americans can feel more confident and secure when they borrow money to purchase their own home” (Donovan). However, the mistake that many people make is seeing property as their home or land as itself and nothing more. What humans fail to acknowledge is that it is not just the property or object itself, it is the relationship that we attach ourselves to that object, “Property viewed as the object or objects of man's drive to own, is of far less importance than the drive itself” (LeFevre 2). Before being able to own property, the desire to strive and longingly want to own property must be prominent. Without it, no one would have the desire to own or even care to own anyth...
Buying and owning your home is part of the American dream. Although the dream itself has since changed, the home still remains the main focal point. Today owning a home doesn’t necessarily mean a house. People now buy duplexes, cooperative apartments, and condominiums. For some families it could take up to a couple of generations before it’s able to have the capabilities of buying a home. To many people it means a certain achievement that only comes after years of hard work. It is a life altering decision and one of the most important someone can make in their lifetime. The reasons behind the actual purchase could vary. Before anything is done, people must understand that it’s an extraneous process and it is a long term project.
One’s personal possessions usually have value to them because they are something that a person can truly claim as his or her own. The most desirable and most valuable possession would naturally be love. With love some, but not all, desire material possessions. Last, everyone desires security to complete the last piece of the puzzle.
Kara walked into the classroom five seconds before the bell rang and all the guys looked in awe. She was the kind of girl that everyone wants but nobody can have. I was among these spectators sitting next to an empty desk. She came and took the weight off her feet in chair to the left of me. I had never talked to her until one day she brought conversation upon me. She asked me how my day was going and I gave a typical response of “Good.” She introduced herself and asked for my name. I discovered right then from the position of the sun in the sky creating a perfect reflection of shine in her eyes that this girl was the perfect human being. The way she talked with a sense of warmth made me feel comforted and secure.