What follows from the belief that we own ourselves and the product of our labor? John Locke's account of natural rights provides the starting point for a discussion of property, bodily autonomy, and the consent of the governed. I trace those ideas into American political thought and Jefferson's broader language of the pursuit of happiness.
Conservatives, progressives, and libertarians emphasize different parts of self-ownership: economic freedom, personal liberty, or protection from government coercion. I consider where those views overlap and where they pull apart. Written in November 2023, this essay connects that debate to voting over personal healthcare decisions. The central question is whether government protects an individual's freedom to choose, including choices that other people would not make.
Read the essay and sources: https://joelkdouglas.com/2023/11/14/john-locke-ownership-of-self/
