Rights versus Freedom

In a discussion on property rights yesterday, I made the mistake of disregarding the distinction between rights and freedom. Freedom is; rights are given. Though both are functions of human language, rights are an artificial construct. What freedom means is debatable. It has to be used in some context. While I am always free to, say, scream Fire! in a crowded theatre, I do not necessarily have the right to do so. Property ownership is a right. Who grants these rights? They are certainly not natural rights. They are granted by the State. Can rights exist outside of the context of a State? How are they defended? Just wondering…

“People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.” — Kierkegaard

LVX

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• Christian Freedoms At Risk
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• False Left/Right Paradigm 101

~ by tfacblog on September 5, 2007.