Handout A: What Kind of Right?

Directions:

A natural right is a right that comes from our human nature. Humans are born with natural rights and do not need anyone to act on their behalf in order to exercise them. (For this reason they are also called negative rights.) Privileges, on the other hand, are rights conferred by civil society. These may vary through times and places, because, unlike natural rights, they are given by government.

 

Mark whether each is a natural right, a privilege, or neither.

Life	Natural Right	Privilege	Neither
Self-Defense	Natural Right	Privilege	Neither
Liberty	Natural Right	Privilege	Neither
Driving	Natural Right	Privilege	Neither
Freedom of religion	Natural Right	Privilege	Neither
Happiness	Natural Right	Privilege	Neither
Serving on a jury	Natural Right	Privilege	Neither
Remaining silent	Natural Right	Privilege	Neither
Holding a parade on public streets	Natural Right	Privilege	Neither
Choosing a line of work	Natural Right	Privilege	Neither
Running for office	Natural Right	Privilege	Neither
Not hearing offensive words	Natural Right	Privilege	Neither
Freedom from unreasonable searches	Natural Right	Privilege	Neither
Refusing to purchase certain goods	Natural Right	Privilege	Neither
Shouting down a controversial speaker	Natural Right	Privilege	Neither