I just want to make a couple of
points before we go any further:
- First, we
should understand that rights are
extremely important, but they are
not the whole of morality.
Morality also includes ideas about
goodness, charity, generosity,
courage, and much more. Indeed,
these things are sometimes at odds
with our rights. We may have a
right to do X but it may be a very
bad thing to do. That surprises
some people, but the relationship
between our rights and the good is
not a simple one.
- Second, I've
got a problem with your definition
of a right. I agree with the first
part. An individual has a right to
do or have X if and only if others
have a duty not to prevent X from
doing or having X. But then you go
on to say that we may have a right
to have others provide us with
something. You have to tread
softly there. You can take that
and run all the way to medicare
and medicaid and every kind of
welfare state program you like.
Not so fast.
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