Replies to post #6216 on The Free Zone Board

[Spallenzani]

Re: Trying to rationalize theft

First of all, I don't "steal" cable or movie hop, so I hardly see how this is a self-serving justification. I'm just trying to think this issue through. Intellectual property rights are much more shaky than physical property rights. The only justification for them is a cost-benefit analysis of pragmatism: if pharmaceutical companies were not given a temporary monopoly on the drugs they create, they would have little to no incentive for investing millions in research and development costs. If intellectual property rights were as strong as physical property rights, this monopoly would not be temporary but would remain in existence forever. As a society, we have determined that the most efficient law is one that provides a limited-term monopoly. I am not so sure if this is the best solution, and I am definitely not so sure that any moral wrong has been committed even if such a solution is socially optimal.

Again, who is the victim here? Who is being wronged?

[Spallenzani]

Re: Trying to rationalize theft:

More on this "fancy justification for theft" issue. I think it is a bad idea to start ascribing evil motives to people during a political discourse, unless there is ample reason to do so. Certainly some socialists are inspired out of jealousy, but I have no doubt that many socialists are well-intentioned and truly believe that they are advocating what is best for society. Even though I believe socialism is theft, I don't accuse socialism of being a fancy justification for theft because I don't believe that most socialists have purely self-serving motives.