Single Idea 5653

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

Full Idea

Rights are enforced in the name of justice, whereas power is enforced come what may.

Gist of Idea

A right is a power which is enforced in the name of justice

Source

Roger Scruton (Short History of Modern Philosophy [1981], Ch.14)

Book Reference

Scruton,Roger: 'A Short History of Modern Philosophy' [ARK 1985], p.199


A Reaction

Presumably rights can be claimed as well as enforced, and the notion of a natural right is at least a discussable concept, as in the 'right' of self-defence. Scruton offers us a very right-wing definition of rights.