08-28-2004, 07:13 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-28-2004, 07:15 PM by LemmingofGlory.)
Quote:I thought I had mentioned *somewhere* that it was due to another person's right being denied
How are you using "rights"? Are you using the U.S. Constitution's definition of "rights"? If so, then that again illustrates Pete's point about societal influence because, in that context, a right is a right when the required legislation passes. If, instead, you define "rights" by the writings of a particular philosopher, then you may be talking about "natural rights" or "human rights" instead of legal rights. There also exists the possibility that you're using "rights" to include legal rights and other sorts of rights. In that case, what criteria do you use to decide what constitutes a "right"?
How one defines a right is critically important to certain arguments. For instance, one common argument relating to same-sex marriage is "The government is denying same-sex couples the right to marry." One would need axioms from which one can conclude entering into certain legal agreements is a right.
-Lemmy