Gift-giving and Joint Ownership

By Dr. Masahiro Taniuchi

The empathetic sharing of private property that makes up the joint ownership of the principle of interdependence differs from the modern ideology of sharing.

The sharing economy was a new attempt at solving one another’s shortages by exchanging resources, however, at present many sharing economy platforms have changed into systems that aim for economic profit.

Economic sharing took off because people wanted to financially help one another through give and receive. Yet the reason its sole purpose is changing to personal economic profit is because the sharing economy operates based on a theory that finds all behavioral principles of the individual in economic motives while honoring the profit motive under the existing rights to private ownership.

In contrast, the first quality of joint ownership is unconditional conditionality. Joint ownership must begin unconditionally, and it is formed when another person corresponds and engages in joint ownership with you.

A reciprocal relationship begins with unconditional love that does not expect anything in return. A reciprocal relationship is formed when a common base is established centered on a common goal of both engaging in joint ownership. The practice of joint ownership is to give unconditionally, and when there is a return, a common base in joint ownership is established. Put another way, if the other person does not reciprocate, a reciprocal relationship does not form. When this relationship leads to loss, a relationship of joint ownership is not achieved….To build a reciprocal relationship by sharing a goal of joint ownership means that there must be a return for the gift activated by unconditional true love. Thus, the first quality of joint ownership is unconditional conditionality.

At this point I would like to clarify the attribute of joint ownership by comparing it with exchange. Like the act of giving, exchange is an act of voluntary transfer; it is not established (183) through some external force or power. However, exchange differs from giving in that along with the transfer one receives money or goods in return. In an exchange, there is always a simultaneous two-way transfer. This is the principle of contract and the condition of exchange that moves the market economy.

The quality of unconditional conditionality also separates joint ownership from pure gift. A pure gift is to give without any return. For example, philanthropic activities such as volunteer work fall under the category of pure gift. Meanwhile, joint ownership is only possible when there is a return. Pure gifting stops after one time and does not form a common base under joint ownership. This differs from joint ownership which creates a reciprocal relationship in which giving is circulated.

Joint ownership takes place when the act of giving is mutual. Joint ownership cannot form if the giving is one-sided, and it will end as a pure gift. When an independent but voluntary giving occurs mutually in both directions, joint ownership rooted in the principle of interdependence is achieved. Therefore, reasonable ownership is determined based on one’s individuality and relationship with others. The theory of joint ownership rooted in the principle of interdependence utilizes private ownership according to one’s conscience and also develops reasonable ownership that strives for joint ownership by considering the lives of one’s neighbors and oneself.

Both the material perspective on ownership and the spiritual perspective on joint ownership of the principle of interdependence develop an economy that uses the market economy system. The market economy system creates a fair economy by autonomously finding a balance between supply and demand, which is no different from the theory of joint ownership. However, its difference with the existing market economy is that when private ownership is earned and used, joint ownership of the Principle of Interdependence possesses both an economic perspective and a spiritual perspective.

In such a market economy, exchange will take place with not only economic remuneration, but also with love and gratitude. Therefore, joint ownership of the Principle of Interdependence applies the preexisting market economy by pursuing private ownership for the individual while simultaneously striving to accomplish joint ownership through give-and-receive action with part of that private property.

In the economy of joint ownership, all participants accept their participation in unconditional joint ownership. If the theory of joint ownership becomes generalized in society as creative altruism is, joint ownership can transcend a one-to-one relationship and be achieved on the societal level. Therefore, joint ownership begins one-to-one but develops the joint ownership economy with one-to-many. Joint ownership is neither entirely altruistic nor entirely self-centered. It relies on the unconditional joint ownership of other members of society. Joint ownership, which desires to give joy to others centering on true love, unfolds with the qualities of unconditional conditionality, interactivity, and developmental nature.

On the foundation of the gift economy, the household achieves a sharing economy based on economic joint ownership when both social production and market production are combined.

A society based on joint ownership is one in which all economic entities can enjoy the economic fruit and produce a virtuous cycle in which all members can live fairly. In other words, it transforms modern shareholder capitalism into capitalism for all stakeholders.

Dr. Masahiro Taniuchi received his PhD in 2017 from SunHak Universal Peace Graduate University in South Korea. His dissertation entitled "A Study on Social and Civil Economy from the Viewpoint of Unification Thought" explores the possibility of developing a new social economic model based on interdependence, including corporate social responsibility, reciprocity and the creation of shared values.