Rights – Introduction

The Rights Approach Philosophers and ethicists suggest that the ethical action is the one that best protects and respects the moral rights of those affected. This approach starts from the belief that humans have a dignity based on their human nature per se or on their ability to choose freely what they do with their lives. On the basis of such dignity, they have a right to be treated as ends and not merely as means to other ends.

The list of moral rights includes the rights:

• to make one’s own choices about what kind of life to lead
• to be told the truth
• not to be injured
• to a degree of privacy

and so on-is widely debated; some now argue that non-humans have rights, too. Also, it is often said that rights imply duties – in particular, the duty to respect others’ rights.