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Harry obtains control of Daniel's property by deception. Has Harry committed theft?

User Juco
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Final answer:

Harry has committed a form of theft, specifically fraud or larceny by trick, by obtaining control of Daniel's property through deception. Theft includes unlawful taking through deceit, not just physical taking, as supported by various legal narratives and precedents.

Step-by-step explanation:

When Harry obtains control of Daniel's property by deception, Harry has indeed committed a type of theft, often referred to as fraud or larceny by trick. In legal terms, theft is a broad category encompassing various forms of unlawful taking, including acquiring property through deceit or misrepresentation.

Theft is not limited to the physical taking of property; it also includes situations where a person uses deceit, lies, or trickery to gain control of someone's property. Therefore, if Harry intentionally deceived Daniel to gain control of his property, that deception is recognized as a form of theft under the law.

This concept is reinforced by legal precedents where authors or others have taken property, ideas, or manuscripts using deceit, as exemplified by the cases of Marriott and Harringman with Henry King's Poems and the narrative by Dupin about a purloined letter.

Such actions violate the trust and rights of property ownership, hence why phrases like "Property is Theft!" by Proudhon are more provocative and theoretical than legal definitions.

User Electrikmilk
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