[extropy-chat] What the #$?! are rights anyway?

[Damien Sullivan]

It was a post on the extropians list back in 1993 (David Krueger?) which
completed the doubts I'd had about "natural rights".  Like the other
respondents I'd say rights don't Exist, any more than law does; they're
granted by us to each other.  Social contract theory -- which is also
old, with roots in Epicureanism.  Preference (many humans are empathetic,
and may indulge in it more when they can afford to), tradition,
might-makes-right.

You can derive a lot just from social contract -- what would rough
equals agree to?  Not everything, e.g. it doesn't give a great reason
for a majority to not exploit a distinct minority.  That I think needs
supplementation from lots of people deciding they don't like it and
fighting to establish their preference.

-xx- Damien X-)