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    If the validity of a right depended on social enforcement... — Carmelics
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    Challenges→A person does not have a right to something if society ought not take measures to secure that thing for that person.

    If the validity of a right depended on social enforcement, then societies that systematically fail to protect rights would thereby extinguish those rights, which is morally absurd.

    ?Rate how convincing each reason is below to see the overall strength.
    1 reason for
    1 reason against

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 1.Rights express moral truths about human dignity that exist independently of whether societies recognize them.
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    • 2.If rights vanished when unenforced, we couldn't coherently criticize oppressive regimes for violating rights.
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    • 3.Moral validity and social enforcement are logically distinct categories; confusing them undermines moral progress.
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    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.Rights might be social constructs whose meaning and existence are constitutively dependent on institutional frameworks.
      ?

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    • 2.We can critique oppressive regimes without assuming pre-social rights—we appeal to alternative social values they should adopt.
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    • 3.Unenforced rights lack practical content; calling them 'valid' but ineffective may confuse moral ideals with actual rights.
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    Key Terms

    Social enforcement(as used in legal and political philosophy)
    When society (through governments, laws, or public pressure) makes sure people follow rules and punishes those who break them.
    extinguish(in philosophy and ethics)
    To completely eliminate or destroy something—in this case, to make a right cease to exist.
    morally absurd(in ethical arguments)
    Something that goes against basic moral sense and reason; an idea so wrong it seems ridiculous.
    validity of a right(in discussions of human rights and ethics)
    Whether a right is real and actually matters—essentially, whether it's genuine and should be respected.

    Connections

    2 topics

    Rights & Liberty1 linkedJustice & Punishment1 linked

    Related

    A person does not have a right to something if society ought not take measures t...If rights vanished when unenforced, we couldn't coherently criticize oppressive ...Moral validity and social enforcement are logically distinct categories; confusi...Rights express moral truths about human dignity that exist independently of whet...
    +3 moreShow less
    Rights might be social constructs whose meaning and existence are constitutively...Unenforced rights lack practical content; calling them 'valid' but ineffective m...

    Details

    Type
    claim
    Perspectives
    2 (1 for, 1 against)
    Edits
    1 edit
    We can critique oppressive regimes without assuming pre-social rights—we appeal ...