Single Idea 20604

[catalogued under 25. Social Practice / C. Rights / 1. Basis of Rights]

Full Idea

Choice theorists hold that rights protect our rights to make autonomous judgements, because our basic right to autonomy must be protected, The theory has a problem with people unable to exercise autonomy (such as infants and animals).

Gist of Idea

Choice theory says protecting individual autonomy is basic (but needs to cover infants and animals)

Source

Tuckness,A/Wolf,C (This is Political Philosophy [2017], 5 'Interest')

Book Reference

Tuckness,A / Wolf,C: 'This is Political Philosophy' [Wiley Blackwell 2017], p.114


A Reaction

The problem of infants and animals looks like a decisive objection to me. We obviously don't protect dangerous or hostile autonomous judgements, and it is not clear why protecting stupid autonomy should be basic.

Related Ideas

Idea 20603 One theory (fairly utilitarian) says rights protect interests (but it needs to cover trivial interests) [Tuckness/Wolf]

Idea 20602 Some rights are 'claims' that other people should act in a certain way [Tuckness/Wolf]