An old guy once said to me that rights are determined by the government because our rights are stated in the US Constitution.
I know it’s not from God because not everyone believes in a god.
Is that true? If not, who determines our rights?
Only contracts.
And the power to enforce said contracts.
No, not necessarily.
I think that if there is no God to guarantee the rights of man, something else must do it.
So the US government gives us our rights?
What kind of contracts?
Would that be the Constitution? Because we derive free speech from the Constitution does that imply the government determined that free speech is a right?
Please elaborate more.
From our ability to cooperate peacefully.
http://www.vforvoluntary.com/wiki/MoralityFromASocietalPerspective
It protects them.
OK, relevance?
Then who gives them to us?
I believe rights are created by explicit contracts as well as the rise of moral norms in society also known as ethics.
Today it is true that our rights are determined by government. Since these can be granted and removed according to the whims of the government it is doubtful rights granted to us by government can actually be considered rights though. It is probably more accurate to say that we don’t have any rights in current society.
Unless we believe there are some ethics which are more powerful then government that they can’t violate (or rather change, individual cases of violations always happen) without rebellion…
Without God, something must guarantee the contract.
No, actual contracts. Agreements made between individuals. The idea of a “right” to free speech is absurd, you need a right for something that isn’t free.
Either God did or we just imagined them.
OK? That still doesn’t necessarily equate force so its a moot point.
Yes it does. If you and I make a contract but you can’t enforce it do you really think I’m going to honor it? Come on.
For those of us who DON’T follow a religion.
Our rights are NOT given to us by anything, anybody or any supernatural entity. Our rights are solely a product of our self aware nature as human beings and our ability and need to protect ourselves and our property.
If government exists at all, it can merely act to PROTECT rights, but it can never GRANT rights.
If you ever want to do business with me or any of my associates again you will…
(Or anyone else I have the opportunity to inform of your untrustworthiness)
If I don’t expect it to be honoured I won’t enter into it in the first place. This is common sense. Come on!