4title: Beliefs + Principles
5author: Galen Wolfe-Pauly + Curtis Yarvin
6image: http://urbit.s3.amazonaws.com/16-3-10/blog-2.jpg
7preview: Where the motivation for building Urbit comes from and what guides its forward progress.
19We believe strongly in the value of individual creativity. To
20maximize our individual creative potential we believe that
21general-purpose tools are an essential resource.
23We believe that individuals shouldn’t need to pay any cost in terms of
24usability, accessibility or reliability in exchange for ownership, privacy or
27We believe that the discussion of how our software should work needs to be inclusive and expansive. We welcome debate and criticism in our development process.
29We believe in free speech and we believe in individual accountability.
30We believe that a healthy network is one with diverse, well-defined
31communities and clear, user-controlled, boundaries between public and
34Lastly we believe that no software system can replace human trust and
35communication. Discourse and dialogue are an important part of communities
36of all scales. Code and law can successfully reduce conflict only to a
37point, when too far reaching they become oppressive.
39We aim to preserve the promise of general-purpose computing since its
40positive effect on humankind is so deeply significant.
44Here are some principles of Urbit. Where principles conflict,
45the first stated takes precedence.
47## Digital independence
49Digital independence is independent control of your own
50general-purpose computer which holds your own primary data.
51Urbit's ultimate purpose is to make practical digital
52independence a useful and widely available product.
56Wherever possible, the rules of Urbit must be executable as code.
57Wherever possible, code must be self-enforcing. If not, it must
58be perfectly defined. If not, it must not be stated.
60## Sovereignty is conserved
62Even where code is law, exceptional situations demanding
63effective collective action will always arise. There must
64always be a collective authority to solve these problems.
66Two known problems in Urbit that require central authority are
67approval of software updates and activation of the network. But
68there will certainly be others.
70## Purpose of collective authority
72Urbit is a republic. Its government has one task: promoting,
73preserving and protecting Urbit. It may take any legal action
74which advances this goal. Any other actions are *ultra vires*,
75out of scope. Urbit is not a general-purpose charity.
77## Decentralized control
79Urbit should never fall under any kind of central control. All
80transitions in galaxy ownership should divide positions, not
83Galaxy and star ownership should also be separated. It is
84harmful for a single entity to hold both galaxies and stars.
86## Property is contingent
88Property rights are contingent and accidental, not moral or
89meritorious. A property register does not record why an owner
90deserves some property. Ownership is neither a reward nor a
93## Governance is by stake
95Ultimately, Urbit must be governed by those who own it. In each
96tier, equal stakes must hold equal authority.
100Urbit does not admit a tradeoff between anarchy and tyranny,
101order and liberty. Urbit has zero tolerance for abuse, nor does
102it facilitate censorship.
104Urbit will do everything possible to help you block content you
105don't want to see. It does nothing to help you block content you
106don't want others to see.
108## Trolling considered harmful
110If you post content on Urbit which may offend or disturb any
111significant group of users, it is your responsibility to mark it
112properly for automatic blocking.
114## Sockpuppets considered harmful
116The only legitimate reason for one individual to use multiple
117identities is to maintain multiple active pseudonyms. But
118multiple identities must never interact in the same context.
122Urbit is not a darknet. It does not break real-world laws. It
123is not designed to facilitate the breaking of real-world laws.
124For any problem that lawbreakers have, there must always be a
125better solution that is not Urbit.
127## Responsibility to route
129As long as they are not facilitating violations of any of these
130principles, or laws in their own jurisdictions, stars and
131galaxies are responsible for routing their children. They are
132also collectively responsible for escape-routing the children of
133stars and galaxies which fail in their responsibility.
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