Ownership And Identity Essay

The term “ownership” and the development of identity coexist. Many philosophers have pondered the relationship between the ownership and the development of identity for centuries. Some argue that tangible objects help to develop moral characters while others argue that the ownership extends beyond objects and includes experiences, skills, and ideas. The ownership of both tangible and nontangible help to develop the sense of self for those objects can help people realize their potentials and capabilities. On one hand, many people would argue that tangible objects do not help develop the self of sense, but instead, it would contribute to the loss of identities as people become too obsessed to obtain riches and wealth. Henry David Thoreau once stated, “It makes but little difference whether you are committed to a farm or the county jail.” He believes that acquiring tangible objects which are not necessary in people’s lives can cause them delusion, anxiety, and, stress. He emphasizes that possessions own us more than we own them. Thoreau expressed that the experiences we gained through our life is more important than acquiring monetary wealth. Experiences cannot be bought

The first impression of an individual is judged by what they wear or what they carry. It is true that objects control people more than they realize, but those objects that people carry around reflect the personalities of individuals. Some possessions are strongly related to how people define themselves, such as cars, jewels, watches, and clothes. An individual who has relatively expensive brands of clothes and cars can be regarded as a person with high status. It is likely that many people would respect a person due to his or her status/ wealth which made this individual feels worthy and proud of who he or she is. It is indeed undeniable that the possessions play a vital role in development of the sense of