Natural rights and legal rights

Uncommon card · No. 140447

Some philosophers distinguish two types of rights, natural rights and legal rights. Natural rights are the subset of moral rights that human beings possess as a result of their nature, independent of the laws or customs of any particular society. Natural law is the law of natural rights. Legal rights are those bestowed onto a person by a given legal system (they can be modified, repealed, and restrained by human laws). The concept of positive law is related to the concept of legal rights. Natural rights are universal, fundamental, and according to some philosophers categorically inalienable: i.e. they cannot be repealed by human laws, though one can forfeit their enjoyment through one's actions, such as by violating someone else's rights. In contrast, Legal rights are particular and are not categorically or necessarily fundamental or inalienable. Natural law first appeared in ancient Greek philosophy, and was referred to by Roman philosopher Cicero. It was subsequently alluded to by Saint...

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