Single Idea 3775

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

Full Idea

When we call anything a person's right, we mean that he has a valid claim on society to protect him in the possession of it.

Gist of Idea

A right is a valid claim to society's protection

Source

John Stuart Mill (Utilitarianism [1861], Ch.5)

Book Reference

Mill,John Stuart: 'Utilitarianism (including On Liberty etc)', ed/tr. Warnock,Mary [Fontana 1962], p.309