I'm curious to know everyone's positions on the idea of "rights," particularly "natural rights." Do you think such rights exist and if so, how are they derived? Being an insufferable liberal atheist, I often find myself speaking on rights but inevitably back down when asked to defend the basis of such rights. The reason being is that the Declaration of Independence derives these rights from a creator, or lawgiver . . . this is obviously bad because I can hardly call myself reasonable if I contradict my own beliefs the moment I invoke the very rights that U.S. citizens cling to.
Another idea I've encountered is that rights are somehow derived naturally or are somehow intrinsic to human nature. If that's true, how can we define these rights when they don't have much basis on natural law? I mean, a right to life is all well and good, but my life is only sustained from the countless deaths of plants and other animals. Doesn't my "right to life" infringe others rights and is therefore not universal?
I'm interested to know what you think.
Another idea I've encountered is that rights are somehow derived naturally or are somehow intrinsic to human nature. If that's true, how can we define these rights when they don't have much basis on natural law? I mean, a right to life is all well and good, but my life is only sustained from the countless deaths of plants and other animals. Doesn't my "right to life" infringe others rights and is therefore not universal?
I'm interested to know what you think.