civilization), for example, is considered a basic right and owned
property is inalienable from the owner and his or her heirs. However,
exclusive rights to “writings and discoveries” (belonging to the world of
culture) may be granted under certain conditions for a limited time.
What are these conditions? Exclusive rights have “to promote the
progress of science and useful arts.” The specific role of cultural
phenomena is implied here: the progress of science and arts. This
specific role relates to the nature of culture and radically differs from
the nature and role of material property in human society.
The two worlds are different. The question is, how different are they? Or better yet, how are they different? Before talking to the first graders, I identified a few differences between the “things” belonging to these two worlds. The term “discrepancies” is not quite correct here because the world of culture cannot, must not, and does not coincide or overlap with the world of civilization, in principle. Therefore, discrepancies between them are not possible. On the other hand, exclusive rights to cultural phenomena amount to an attempt to treat “things of culture” the same way as ones of civilization. Thus, assumed “similarities” in reality are “discrepancies.”
Things: Material versus Cultural
Exchange
Cultural phenomena and material things can be shared, but there
is a difference in how each does so: physical things change hands
while cultural phenomena can be copied or just remembered by
other people. That is, one does not lose an idea when it becomes
known to others. One does not lose a movie when it is watched or
copied by others. One does not lose a musical piece when it is
listened to or recorded by others. In general: one does not lose a
cultural phenomenon when one shares it with others.
Moreover, the exchange of material things and the sharing of ideas converge in the act of trade. Ideas which reflect the worth of physical things must be shared for these things to be traded. Any trading of physical things or services without the sharing of ideas is either impossible, or meaningless, or harmful for one or both parties.
