natural rights what are they? where do we get them? how do we protect them? what are they? where do...
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NATURAL RIGHTSWHAT ARE THEY?
WHERE DO WE GET THEM?HOW DO WE PROTECT THEM?
NATURAL RIGHTS
WHAT ARE THEY AND WHERE DO WE FIND
THEM?
NATURAL RIGHTS
What are Rights?
What are Natural Rights? Where do you get these rights and
when? How do we go about protecting them?
NATURAL RIGHTS
NATURAL RIGHTS The Declaration of
Independence
We hold these truths to be self-evident that all Men are created equal…certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness…
NATURAL RIGHTS
The Declaration continued
…Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their Powers from the Consent of the Governed…
NATURAL RIGHTS
Even MORE Declaration
…whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new government…
NATURAL RIGHTS
NATURAL RIGHTS John Locke (1632 - 1704)
English Philosopher
Natural Rights Philosophy Human beings had rights in a “state of
nature” and create government in order to protect those rights
Natural Rights for Everyone !!
NATURAL RIGHTS John Locke thinking outside the
box!!
Prior view of rights were based on special privileges and special classes.
Locke’s theory of Natural Rights disagreed - we all share the same unalienable rights no matter what.
NATURAL RIGHTS
HOW DO WE PROTECT THEM?
NATURAL RIGHTS
Social Contract
What is it?? Who is it between??
Contract between the people and the government to secure and protect their Natural Rights.
NATURAL RIGHTS Social Contract Two aspects:
(1) Everyone gives up a little of their freedom to a government;
(2) In return, the government will protect their Natural Rights
NATURAL RIGHTS How does the Government go about
protecting these rights?
Constitution Establishes limits on the power of the
Government to prevent them from limiting their Natural Rights (Legal Protection)
Distribution of Government Power (Organizational Protection) - Checks and Balances
NATURAL RIGHTS Why Limit the Government?
Avoid Abuses of Power Keep the power with the people
“Give all power to many, they will oppress the few. Give all power to
the few, they will oppress the many.” - Alexander Hamilton
NATURAL RIGHTS What CAN’T the Government do?
Private Domain - there are areas of the citizen’s lives that are no business of the government and in which the government cannot interfere
E.g. Marriage, religion, political affiliation, etc…
NATURAL RIGHTS
REVIEW: What are Natural Rights?
Where do we get them?
How do we protect them?
NATURAL RIGHTS