Combining Texts

Ideas for 'The Middle Works (15 vols, ed Boydston)', 'Ecce Homo' and 'After Virtue: a Study in Moral Theory'

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24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 3. Natural Values / c. Natural rights

8050	There are no natural or human rights, and belief in them is nonsense [MacIntyre]
	Full Idea: There are no natural or human rights, and belief in them is one with belief in witches and in unicorns.
	From: Alasdair MacIntyre (After Virtue: a Study in Moral Theory [1981], Ch. 6)
	A reaction: His point is that the notion of 'rights' only arises out of a community. However, while you might criticise an individual for absurdly asserting all sorts of dubious rights, no one could criticise them if they asserted the right to defend their own life.