Definition and Features of Rights
Rights are those essential conditions of social life without which no person can generally realize his best self. These are the essential conditions for health of both the individual and his society. It is only when people get and enjoy rights that they can develop their personalities and contribute their best services to the society.
Meaning and Definition of Rights
In simple words, rights are the common claims of people which every civilized society recognizes as essential claims for their development, and which are therefore enforced by the state.
In general, rights are legal, social, or ethical principles of freedom or entitlement; that is, rights are the fundamental normative rules about what is allowed of people or owed to people, according to some legal system, social convention, or ethical theory.
- "Rights are those conditions of social life without which no man can seek in general, to be himself at his best." -Laski
- "Rights are powers necessary for the fulfillment of man’s vocation as a moral being." -T. H. Green
- "Rights are nothing more nor less than those social conditions which are necessary or favourable to the development of personality" -Beni Prasad
As such, rights are common and recognized claims of the people which are essential for their development as human beings.
Features and Nature of Rights
- Rights exist only in society. These are the products of social living.
- Rights are claims of the individuals for their development in society.
- Rights are recognized by the society as common claims of all the people.
- Rights are rational and moral claims that the people make on their society.
- Since rights in here only in society, these cannot be exercised against the society.
- Rights are to be exercised by the people for their development which really means their development in society by the promotion of social good. Rights can never be exercised against social good.
- Rights are equally available to all the people.
- The contents of rights keep on changing with the passage of time.
- Rights are not absolute. These always bear limitations deemed essential for maintaining public health, security, order and morality.
- Rights are inseparably related with duties. There is a close relationship between them “No Duties, No Rights. No Rights, No Duties.” “If I have rights it is my duty to respect the rights others in society”.
- Rights need enforcement and only then these can be really used by the people. These are protected and enforced by the laws of the state. It is the duty of a state to protect the rights of the people.
This lesson is part of:
Citizenship and Rights