Author: Curt Doolittle

PROPOSED TERM: “Primovestiture”
(Pree’-moh-vess’-tih-tyoor) v.
(the generalization of homesteading)

(re: contra kinsella 2)
Kinsella uses the libertarian term “original appropriation” which says nothing other than an action that one seeks to bring a thing under his control and…

PROPOSED TERM: “Primovestiture”
(Pree’-moh-vess’-tih-tyoor) v.
(the generalization of homesteading)

(re: contra kinsella 2)
Kinsella uses the libertarian term “original appropriation” which says nothing other than an action that one seeks to bring a thing under his control and out of the control of others”.

We use the word homesteading which is more appropriate (sic) because it means you’ve invested in an thing over time that was not previously invested in by others.

Homesteading is the better term – but this might be one of those rare time we need a neologism. 😉

We need a term that is the equivalent of homesteading that more generalzed and consists of the operational terms by which we bring our control over something into legitimacy by the costs born without impacting the costs born by others. We need to be creative about defining a new term.

Primovestiture: From “primo” (first) and “investment.”

Elements of Primovestiture
Initial Investment: The human action of allocating resources—whether it’s labor, capital, or intellectual effort—to something previously unclaimed or undeveloped.

Exclusivity: Ensuring that the actor is the first to make the said investment, effectively nullifying the possibility of dual claims over the resource.

Non-Deprivation: The investment does not produce externalities that would impose costs on others, maintaining a state of Pareto efficiency.

Utility in Decidability
Primovestiture offers a criterion for the decidability in disputes over initial claims by providing an axiomatic foundation based on natural law. If an action satisfies the principles of Primovestiture, then it has achieved a state of ethical legitimacy and should be universally preferable within a given legal system. It also dovetails with performative truth, as the action itself, when conducted under the constraints of Primovestiture, reveals a truth about the legitimacy of ownership.

Cross-disciplinary Application
Given your focus on unifying multiple fields under the banner of Natural Law, Primovestiture can serve as

The concept fills a notable gap in the lexicon of property theory and resource allocation. It essentially entails a generalized form of “homesteading” that extends beyond land and natural resources to include anything that can be controlled or influenced by human action. The focus is on the ethical or legitimate acquisition through initial investment, without creating external costs for others.

Steps to coining a new term:

1. Identify Key Components of the Concept
Initial Investment: You are the first to allocate resources—be it time, effort, or material goods.
Exclusivity: No one else has previously invested in the object or concept.
Non-Deprivation: Your investment does not deprive or cost others.

2. Consult Existing Terminology
Terms like “usufruct,” “first appropriation,” and “stakeholding” might provide inspiration but aren’t adequate to capture your concept entirely.

3. Experiment with Word Creation
Primovestiture: From “primo” (first) and “investment.”

4. Assess the Term for Clarity and Applicability
The term should be self-explanatory to some degree.
It should be broad enough to apply to various contexts, from natural resources to intellectual property to social and economic capital.

5. Introduce the Term in Academic and Professional Circles
A white paper or academic article that outlines the theoretical framework can serve as an introduction.

I don’t think much of academia but this might be one of those cases where it’s useful.