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Consider this case: We agree that Smith has a right to drive his
car out of the driveway to his home. But suppose someone has fallen
down unconscious on the driveway. Does Smith's right to drive
out imply the right to drive over and kill the unconscious person?
After all, it's his driveway! (He can rip it up, paint it red,
rent it out, or park a truck on it if he wants.) Assume that he
never gave the unconscious person permission to be there. If Smith
cannot morally drive over the person, where does this limitation
on his rights come from?
Why does it seem to most people that Smith's right to the driveway does not include the right to drive over an unconscious man? Is it the fact that the man will be killed if he does while Smith will only be inconvenienced if he doesn't? Is there some principle of proportion that should be observed? Is there some inherent limit to Smith's right that we haven't clarified? Is it the other man's right to life? Something else? Are there similar limitations on what a pregnant woman may do? Why or why not?