What is Property? by Pierre-Joseph Proudhon

In "What is Property?", French writer Pierre-Joseph Proudhon challenges traditional notions of land ownership derived from Roman law. He critiques the concept of property as the sovereign right of owners to use and abuse their land as they wish, provided they adhere to state-sanctioned titles. Proudhon contrasts this right with the fundamental rights of liberty, equality, and security, which he views as legitimate.

Proudhon specifically targets the kind of property that allows individuals to exploit the labor of others without contributing any effort of their own. He differentiates this from 'possession,' which he supports as the right to control one's own home, land, and tools necessary for work and living. He argues that possession is essential for liberty. Proudhon’s critique extends to communism for its attempt to abolish possession, which he considers vital for individual freedom.

Through his work, Proudhon seeks to expose the injustices of property that enable exploitation and to promote a more equitable system that respects personal possession and supports true liberty.