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I have a view that is
something like John's, although mine is
ultimately based on my theology. I'm thinking of
the work of Father John Ryan, the best known
Catholic moral theologian in the United States
in the first half of the 20th century.
Ryan argues that people have an obligation to
develop their personality through the exercise
of their capacities. This end is ultimately
based on the will of God. Individual natural
rights are the moral means required to achieve
that end. To achieve that end, God has
established those rights.
I want to try to expand his view somewhat.
Here's an outline, as I understand it.
- Human beings have a rational nature.
- The proper end for a rational being
is "right and reasonable life." He or
she is obligated to pursue this end
because the rational faculty is higher
than the sense faculty and because it
is the will of God that he/she do so.
- Right and reasonable life includes
the development of one's personality
through the exercise of one's
capacities.
- The moral rights of human beings are
the moral means to this end.
These include the rights to life,
liberty, property, livelihood,
marriage, religious worship and
education.
- Human beings have these rights
because the welfare of the individual
is sacred.
- The "ultimate source" of these
natural rights are the reason and will
of God, who has decreed that we pursue
"self-perfection."
I think that views like those of John and
Vlastos are secular versions of Ryan's view.
Vlastos says that human beings have intrinsic
worth. Ryan says that human welfare is sacred.
John wants to see people guaranteed the freedom
and resources required to develop their
capacities. Ryan wants to see people develop
what he calls "personality" through the exercise
of their capacities. The big difference is that
for John rights ultimately have to be ascribed
by people. For me, ultimately, they are granted
by God.
I recommend that you look at some of Ryan's work
to get an idea of how some Catholic philosophers
view human rights. One anthology that is still
available is called Economic Justice:
Selections from Distributive Justice and
A Living Wage. [See especially the
chapter called "The Basis and Justification of
Rights."]
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