03
August
Human rights
August 3, 2021
What makes a human right a human right?
I had to think about this for a while. I am therefore grateful for this question.
I think human rights are human attributes that preserve or make possible our humanity (REASON #1).
As a result, there is only one, but it has a good friend.
- Freedom of thought. The right to own/think subjective truths;
- This right has no limits. That’s why I think it is a right (REASON #2).
- Another person cannot take it away (accounting for humanity destroying illness, accident, or other catastrophic action) (REASON #3).
- Can’t harm others with your thoughts (REASON #4). No telekinesis yet.
- Freedom of speech. Freedom of thought’s good friend.
- Freedom of speech has some limits: can’t harm (truly harm) others with your speech.
- Also, some humans can’t talk. Obviously, they do not have this friend but they are nevertheless human.
The rights set forth in the US Constitution are Americans’ constitutional rights. They protect (Freedom of religion, right to bear arms, right to petition, etc.) your ability to project (speech) your individual truths.
Humans, it appears, uniquely possess the capacity to reason here on earth. Subjective truths are our individual entry points to reason. This is what makes freedom of thought (right to subjective truths) a human right (REASON #5).
