Rights and Ethics

1
Rights and Ethics

• Locke, Regan, Rawls

2
Right A Definition

• Right an activity or good to which a person
  is entitled

3
Rights Theory

• Social Contract an agreement between two
  parties in which people give up or acknowledge
  some limitations to their rights in exchange for
  social order

• Duties with entitlements come corresponding
  responsibilities
• Goal How can we build a just society?

4
Types of Rights

• Liberty Rights involve our abilities to pursue
  legitimate interests without interference by
  government or individuals

• Examples of LR
• free speech
• privacy
• personal property

• Welfare Rights involve our entitlements to
  certain social goods or services

• Examples of WR
• Affordable housing
• Living wage
• Healthcare
• Education

5
In the United States

• Liberty rights are valued over welfare rights.

• We ought to think about how we can reach a better
  balance between liberty and welfare rights.

6
Three Perspectives on Rights

• 1. John Locke (1632-1704) influential on
  American political philosophy.
• Basic Premise Individuals are endowed with
  rights by God.

• Life violation of anothers life is a violation
  of Gods will (enslavement)
• Liberty
• Pursuit of Property adding labor to natural
  world, thus making it ones property (agriculture)

7
Three Perspectives (cont.)

• Tom Regan philosopher and animal rights activist
• Basic Premise humans and animals have inherent
  rights because they are experiencing subjects.

• Experiencing Subjects have inherent values
  that distinguish them from nature.
• Inherent values to be conscious, have
  desires, interests, beliefs.

8
Three Perspectives (cont.)

• 3. John Rawls (1921-2003) American philosopher
  and Harvard professor
• Basic Questions What is justice? What rights
  should people have? How should power, authority,
  and opportunity be distributed?

• Veil of Ignorance
• Attempt to answer these questions without
  knowledge of your race, sex, class, or individual
  abilities so that you do not privilege yourself.

9
John Rawls (continued)

• From the veil of ignorance experiment, two
  principles will be adopted by the society

• 1. Individuals have equal rights (free speech,
  fair trial, vote, assembly).

• 2. Social inequalities should be arranged to a)
  the greatest benefit of the least advantaged and
  b) attached to positions equally open to all.

10
Pros and Cons of Rights Theories

• PROS
• Human beings treated/guaranteed basic dignity
  and respect
• Demands that we work in the interest of others
  rights

• CON
• Rights in Conflict