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I'm not actually trying to distinguish at all -- the OP spoke of rights stemming from nature, and, as you said, any you'd describe as such are basically theolog
by Frondo 8y ago
I'm not actually trying to distinguish at all -- the OP spoke of rights stemming from nature, and, as you said, any you'd describe as such are basically theological in nature.
The thought experiment I'd run is, just like the one of science vs religion: start from scratch, look for the rights that every society has in common.
Property? Nope. Freedom of speech, association, whatever? Nope. The one I think might be universal would be the right to marry someone; I can't think of ever reading about a society where the right to marry and start a family was not a part of it. (Which we also don't really recognize as an explicit right anywhere in modern society, do we?)
- coldtea 8y ago>I can't think of ever reading about a society where the right to marry and start a family was not a part of it There are societies (studied by ethnologists) that don't marry -- the children are raised by the community.
- Frondo 8y agoWow! That's pretty interesting. Do you happen to remember the names of any? And maybe there isn't anything universal to societies that's considered as "right". Sort of opposite -- things forbidden -- I've heard from some biologist that the only universally forbidden behavior (no society has ever generally permitted it) is incestuous relationships. Everything else, you'd find some society somewhere that's okay with it. That makes sense from a biological perspective, too, that we as a species would be hard-wired not to allow it. That might be as close as an "in nature" thing as you might find, something our brains are hard-wired to discourage.
- anoncake 8y agoSerfs had to ask their lord for permission to marry.