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Single Idea 3775

[filed under theme 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 Ref

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