Understanding Rights Theory and its Significance in Society
Rights theory emphasizes the importance of fundamental rights such as freedom, protection, life, equality, justice, property, and health. It traces back to contract theories of politics and delves into the concept of natural and conventional rights, both positive and negative. The theory posits that good acts conform to rights, while bad actions violate them, raising questions about the existence of universal rights.
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Presentation Transcript
Rights theory Freedom, protection, life, equality, justice, property, health are all examples of rights The stress in this theory is not on character or consequences. Rather , acts are believed to be the expression of rights What is a right?
Background Rights theory goes back to the contract theory of politics(Locke, Hobbes) Civil society is based on a contract by which individuals emerge form a state of nature State of nature is a state with no laws and power. Even so, in a state of nature humans enjoy rights that are born with them. Ex freedom
Rights Rights are claims or entitlement that should be observed/respected. Rights entail a sense of owing. Society owe us such entitlement. Also, rights entail a sense of obligation. Society has obligation to us. In addition, rights entail a sense of duty. Society has a duty to us. Rights thought to exist by virtue of their reasonableness. To some, they are like abstract entities that are true in themselves. Self-evident. They are unconditional, uncompromising, and absolute Kinds of rights: Natural rights: born with us Conventional right: man made rights Negative rights: Society owe us not to take away. Ex freedom Positive : Society owe to provide us . Ex Protection Natural rights are primary from which many conventional rights are derived
Rights theory Natural positive Natural negative Conventional positive Conventional negative
Rights Good acts are those done in accordance with rights. Bad things are those done against rights. Objection: Are there universal rights?
