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Absolute Rights

Koldo

Outstanding Member
What rights, if any, do you consider to be absolute? If so, why?

Absolute rights are those that can not, or should not, be limited under any circumstance.
 

Secret Chief

nirvana is samsara
I was just curious; in the US 'right to life' would usually be taken to mean 'pro-life', that is against abortion.
Fortunately :) I am not an American. I consider abortion to be a whole different topic. I meant life for individuals. Abortion involves (obviously) issues such as the circumstances of the pregnancy (eg rape), how many weeks pregnant, the woman's freedom of choice and rights over her own body etc. I'm also in favour of contraception in case anyone was thinking of asking me that one! (especially for Boris Johnson's mother)
 
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Stevicus

Veteran Member
Staff member
Premium Member
What rights, if any, do you consider to be absolute? If so, why?

Absolute rights are those that can not, or should not, be limited under any circumstance.

It's a good question. I suppose it would depend on whether one views a right as a claim of being "God-given," or more of a promise or guarantee offered by governments in an attempt to maximize utility and human happiness.

Perhaps a right to a fair trial would be an example of an absolute right which every accused person should get. If a person is accused, they have a right to a trial and to be treated fairly. Also, being spared any cruel or unusual punishment might also be considered absolute. No civilized society should engage in such things.

The Third Amendment doesn't get much attention anymore, but that should also be considered an absolute right.

And of course, the Thirteenth Amendment - no one should ever be a slave, and no civilized society should ever condone it. That's an absolute right, in my view.
 

Kooky

Freedom from Sanity
I propose that Rights cannot be absolute because their reality is contingent on the social circumstances that allow them to be seized and made real.
 

Regiomontanus

Ματαιοδοξία ματαιοδοξιών! Όλα είναι ματαιοδοξία.
I am assuming you are "pro life", are you not? Or is that not an absolute position you would take?

If I misread your argument here, then I apologize.

Yes, you were correct. And I do consider myself a pacifist.
 

Heyo

Veteran Member
What rights, if any, do you consider to be absolute? If so, why?

Absolute rights are those that can not, or should not, be limited under any circumstance.
There are no absolute rights. All rights are human constructs and as such not real. We, as a society, grant them.
Having said that, there are rights, I think, we should grant without loopholes or exceptions. The right to life (for a person) should be high on that list.
 

PureX

Veteran Member
All rights come with responsibilities, so there really in no such thing as an 'absolute' right. Even the most fundamental right; the right to exist, comes with the obligation to respect that right in others. And to refuse to do that, would then negate that right to oneself.
 

RestlessSoul

Well-Known Member
“We hold these truths to be self evident” - a bold statement in itself, whatever follows.

Americans will presumably know what does follow; “that all men are created equal, and endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”

I am not a US citizen, nor do I have any aspirations ever to be one. But as a statement of principle on which to base a system of government, it’s hard to a imagine a more noble sentiment. Clearly, history tells us that human beings are far better at expressing noble sentiments than they are at living up to them. But the difficulty of living up to them, is no reason not to aspire to the very highest standards.

Any opinions I may or may not have on the subject of abortion, I intend to keep entirely to myself.
 
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