2023-02-23 15:14 Tags: # rights ethics Not what the person making the decision should do, but the rights of the individual/group of people impacted by the decision. Not particularly popular. Rich discussions on the nature of human rights, but doesn't really extend to a normative ethical theory because of alot of wriggle room in instrumental rights. Doesn't really come up on the internet. Look for deontological patient theory. ## What are rights? ### Status based rights Things that all people/animals should expect to have. Irrevocable, inalienable. Liberal democracies are based on this. Not may people disagree with these practically. [^1] [UN Bill of Basic Human Rights.](https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights) ### Instrumental rights Many moral dilemmas don't require status based rights. Thus there are a few forms These can be argued either way. Rights to a distribution of the advantage in society - who has the right to the spoils? Many different arguments. e.g. Bill Gates' fortune should be shared because he doesn't need it. Spread out wealth. Borrows from [Utilitarianism](Utilitarianism.md) giving everyone some access to advantage created in the world. ## How does it deal with conflict? It doesn't really - you should be able to reason which rights are most important. Status based rights hold more stock than the instrumental rights. ## Should rights always be maintained? If you have the power to do something, then yes. ## Open Questions Who has more of a right to life? Nobody, same human dignity. --- # References [^1]: https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/human-rights#:~:text=Human%20rights%20are%20rights%20inherent,and%20education%2C%20and%20many%20more.