ABSTRACT
The “ontology of property” refers to the notion that self-ownership is the foundation of human freedom. It is more than simply the absolute right to one’s things, as found in Roman law. It goes further and asserts that freedom is based on the ownership of one’s person. Replacing ownership with membership as the foundation of our life means that everyone should be represented in some fashion in the cacophony of conversations which determine our future. Instead of a world in which almost everything belongs to a few, we could have a world in which everyone belongs. Housing, similar to food and water, is a basic right. The provision of housing also echoes the original meaning of economics: household management. Housing is also particularly relevant these days because of its role in the economic crisis of 2007, which continues into the present day. This crisis has been called a “housing crisis” and a “financial crisis.”.
