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.

• Rights theory
• Fundamental rights
• Contract theory
• Natural rights
• Conventional rights

ephra Follow

Uploaded on Sep 25, 2024 | 0 Views

Download Presentation

Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.

The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author. Download presentation by click this link. If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.

Presentation Transcript

1. 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?

2. 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

3. 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

4. Rights theory Natural positive Natural negative Conventional positive Conventional negative

5. Rights Good acts are those done in accordance with rights. Bad things are those done against rights. Objection: Are there universal rights?