Moral Rights and Political FreedomSeeking a way out of today's bewildering rush of rights claims, Tara Smith's Moral Rights and Political Freedom offers a systematic account of the nature and foundations of rights. The book carefully elucidates what political freedom is and demonstrates why it should be protected by rights. Smith's thesis is that rights are teleological: respect for freedom is necessary for individuals' flourishing or eudaimonia. Smith illustrates how many alleged rights would actually undermine that objective. Her decisive refutation of the assumption that conflicts between rights are inevitable--demonstrating how such conflicts are theoretically incoherent and practically self-defeating--should go a long way toward resolving many contemporary disputes about rights. |
Contents
What Rights Are | 15 |
The Justification of Rights | 31 |
Rights Telos | 43 |
Copyright | |
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account of rights achieve activity actually altruism apply authority autonomy Ayn Rand behavior beliefs chapter compatibilists conception of rights consequentialist defense of rights demands deontological desires Douglas Rasmussen egoism eudaimonia fact Feinberg freedom of action genuine rights goal govern H. L. A. Hart Harry Binswanger human individuals are entitled infringing Joel Feinberg justified L. W. Sumner Liberty lives means moral rights nature negative freedom objective particular person person's actions person's freedom Philosophy physical pressure political positive freedom possess promote property rights protects a person's question rational recognition of rights recognize rights relevant requires freedom respect for rights respect rights right to freedom rightholder rights claims rights conflicts rights protect rule consequentialism self-generated serve simply take reasoned action teleological character teleological rights telos theory things threat tion Treatise of Government unfree University Press Valerie Valerie's victim violates freedom welfare rights well-being