Welcome to
this information web site on human rights. Its purpose is to attempt to
correct misconceptions about them. This is important because all over
the Western World (at least) much legislation on such things as
taxes
and social regulations are rooted in dubious concepts of rights.
A proper understanding begins with the
concept of fundamental rights.
Fundamental
rights are those rights that simply go with being a
person. That is, rights that are inherent in the basic situation of
every person (man or woman) born into the world. Such rights therefore
come before government or its laws and are sometimes called “a priori”
rights. Through recorded history and probably before,
attempts were made to enunciate these rights. In the 20th century the
effort went in a particular direction because the people who guided the
identification and proclamation of human rights were focussed
on designing a benevolent as well as protective society in accordance
with their values. They simply invented rights to support their vision.
Unfortunately, rights that come from some people’s morality and
cultural values will not necessarily be universal because such factors
differ around the world. Consequently, some proclaimed rights - even in
the most prestigious literature - are not true human rights.
Real fundamental rights are perceived by objective analysis of a single
person’s basic status in the world and what natural ownerships accrue
to him/her. Those ownerships are the source of natural rights. On a
foundation of natural rights other, more specific rights can be derived
by implication. Being rational and objective they do not come from any
particular philosophy or culture and are true for all time and all
places. This is the required characteristic of true human rights.
Literature that takes this proper approach to human rights
is scarce because socialist philosophers have dominated the
subject in the past hundred years. The book Human Rights, What Are They
Really? is a departure from that trend.
Essentially, it presents a complete theory of human rights based on
natural rights and is devoid of rights invented for a purpose. It also
discusses false rights, implementation of true rights and opposing
forces. Especially pertinent to our time is a book Supplement
containing essays on ten current issues ranging from interference in
states to world poverty.
A
generally understood and accepted theory of human rights can serve to
regulate all interaction between people in any
situation, jurisdiction, or time so that everyone's fundamental rights
are protected.
Its effect would be like the “rules of the road” that have
regulated the interaction of people when behind the wheel of a vehicle
on the public road as they follow their individual intentions. These
rules are virtually the same the world over, enabling a person from one
country to drive in any other. A credible theory of rights also has the
potential for worldwide application. As well, it would
provide a
standard for judging the laws and behaviour of governments. To be
credible to every person the theory must have the kind of intellectual
integrity as science or mathematics. The recommended book (above and at
right) is an attempt at this.
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ARTICLES
by
author
Why
Legislated Same Sex Marriage Is Wrong
BOOKS
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Human
Rights, What
Are They Really?
Pub:
Bradich Books
Author: RS Higgins
Language: English
Pages: 146
Soft cover
See
Contents
page
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To buy directly
from printer click here
An electronic version
of this book can be
purchased from
Bradich Books as a PDF file thru PayPal.
US$6.95 PDF Download
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