Rights are fundamentally entitlements or justified claims that individuals hold, serving as moral or legal parameters that society is expected to recognise and uphold. These entitlements are often inextricable from our collective notions of dignity, respect, and well-being.

It’s crucial to differentiate between personal desires and what qualifies as a right. Not every desire, like choosing your own clothes for school or staying out late, constitutes a right. Rights are more specifically those claims that society, collectively, acknowledges as essential for leading a life of dignity and self-respect. For example, the right to a livelihood can be seen as a pathway to economic independence and dignity. When you are economically independent, you have the autonomy to make choices that help you fulfil your talents and interests.

Rights can also be viewed as indispensable to human well-being and self-development. Take, for instance, the right to education. This right doesn’t just provide access to information; it helps develop our cognitive faculties, equips us with valuable life skills, and enables us to make informed decisions. This is why it can be categorised as a universal right, applicable to all humans regardless of their cultural, social, or economic backgrounds.

However, not all claims can be categorised as rights, especially if they are detrimental to individual or communal well-being. For example, consuming prohibited drugs or smoking tobacco may be injurious not only to one’s health but also to the health of those around them. Such activities can also impair social interactions and behaviour, making the person a potential risk to society. Hence, in line with the framework of rights focused on dignity, respect, and well-being, such activities would not qualify as rights.

Rights, therefore, serve as social and ethical cornerstones that are pivotal both to individual dignity and to the collective good. They are recognised and often codified in laws to ensure that these foundational claims are upheld in society, balancing both individual freedoms and collective responsibilities.

The Historical Origin Of Rights

In earlier centuries, particularly the 17th and 18th, the prevailing belief was that rights were natural, endowed upon humans by nature or a divine entity. These natural rights, including the right to life, liberty, and property, were considered inalienable and acted as safeguards against tyranny and abuse of power from states and governments.