Why it wrong to steal?

Answer 1

Because it violates the notion of private property.

Basically, if something is MINE it cannot become YOURS unless I give it to you. It cannot become yours unless I concede ownership to you, and you then assume ownership of said "thing.". In other words, in a 2-person, mutually exclusive system contending over one resource, both people must agree on who the owner is at any one time... or else it breaks mutual exclusivity.

In the three state case, either person A, person B, or neither person hold the resource. Both can't hold it at the same time.

The rules for assuming ownership of something unowned are debatable (you may need to ask permission from anyone else who may want it) but generally, if no one owns it, you can take it. However, most wouldn't consider that stealing.

Answer 2

Stealing is wrong because it violates the rights of others, undermines trust within society, and goes against moral and ethical principles. It also disrupts the balance of fairness and justice in relationships and communities.