# Please list what you think are the most important Natural Rights... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 7, 2016, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-what-you-think-are-the-most-important-natural-rights/770954 "2016-11-07T15:17:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2016, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-what-you-think-are-the-most-important-natural-rights/770954/1 "2016-11-07T15:17:06Z")
…Other than the three already listed in the Declaration of Independence-Life, Liberty and The Pursuit of Happiness. This is an off-shoot of another thread on the 2nd Amendment that was turning into a bit of a hijack, so I decided to start this new thread. I’ve already been given other things not asked for, such as the history of Natural Rights and the definition of Common Law, but _all_ I am asking for here are what you think are the most important Natural Rights beyond those three most commonly quoted. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2016, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-what-you-think-are-the-most-important-natural-rights/770954/2 "2016-11-07T15:26:08Z")
FDR said everyone should have freedom of worship, of speech, from want and from fear. I believe that Truman listed the same four freedoms when Stalin made his land grab after WWII. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2016, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-what-you-think-are-the-most-important-natural-rights/770954/3 "2016-11-07T15:29:08Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > FDR said everyone should have freedom of worship, of speech, from want and from fear. > I believe that Truman listed the same four freedoms when Stalin made his land grab after WWII. Are they on your top list? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2016, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-what-you-think-are-the-most-important-natural-rights/770954/4 "2016-11-07T15:32:30Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > FDR said everyone should have freedom of worship, of speech, from want and from fear. > I believe that Truman listed the same four freedoms when Stalin made his land grab after WWII. Great. I want a new BMW. I will be taking one, inasmuch as I have a natural right. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2016, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-what-you-think-are-the-most-important-natural-rights/770954/5 "2016-11-07T15:53:35Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Are they on your top list? Freedom from want and fear are rather broad, so those are my top four. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2016, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-what-you-think-are-the-most-important-natural-rights/770954/6 "2016-11-07T16:41:08Z")
I don’t quite understand how freedom from want and fear are rights. Especially the freedom from want, which implies that you have a right to someone else’s industry. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2016, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-what-you-think-are-the-most-important-natural-rights/770954/7 "2016-11-07T16:44:20Z")
I don’t think a “natural right” can come at the expense of somebody else. My top right would be “the freedom to be left alone.” ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2016, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-what-you-think-are-the-most-important-natural-rights/770954/8 "2016-11-07T16:45:19Z")
Freedom of religion Freedom of speech Freedom of bodily safety Things like “freedom from want” don’t belong there; like someone else said, that’s far overstepping the boundary of what a “right” is. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2016, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-what-you-think-are-the-most-important-natural-rights/770954/9 "2016-11-07T16:47:06Z")
> [@drewder](#): > > I don’t quite understand how freedom from want and fear are rights. Especially the freedom from want, which implies that you have a right to someone else’s industry. I suspect FDR had food and shelter in mind, not automobiles. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2016, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-what-you-think-are-the-most-important-natural-rights/770954/10 "2016-11-07T16:48:48Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I suspect FDR had food and shelter in mind, not automobiles. 🙂 And FDR never said they were specifically “Natural Rights”, either. edited to add: This is why I would prefer if people would come up with their own lists rather than quote famous people or documents-I’m looking for personal beliefs as to which “Natural Rights” are most important. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2016, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-what-you-think-are-the-most-important-natural-rights/770954/11 "2016-11-07T17:03:22Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I suspect FDR had food and shelter in mind, not automobiles. 🙂 Even if it’s food and shelter. Yes it is good that people help others with food and shelter if they can’t provide for their own for some reason, however if food and shelter are rights then I can walk over to the farmers field and take food from it or cut down trees on somebody’s land to build my house… also on their land. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2016, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-what-you-think-are-the-most-important-natural-rights/770954/12 "2016-11-07T17:14:31Z")
I would go with the right to own property and the right to defend your property and yourself as my first two. Then I would say freedom of expression. I’d like to add freedom of travel but that can conflict with the right to own property so I’m not certain. I would also add some kind of right to self direction though I’m not sure how the phrasing should go. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2016, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-what-you-think-are-the-most-important-natural-rights/770954/13 "2016-11-07T17:15:47Z")
Might I ask that, before we start debating, we get some actual lists in first to compare? I am truly curious as to what individuals think are important Natural Rights, and I’d rather not chase them off just yet, please. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2016, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-what-you-think-are-the-most-important-natural-rights/770954/14 "2016-11-07T17:16:42Z")
FDR was a bit more specific, though: > [@](#): > > In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms. > > … > > The third is freedom from want – which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants – everywhere in the world. He was speaking in terms of a hypothetical future society where all people are (by virtue of virtuous government) free from want and therefore nobody would have cause to walk to their neighbor’s house and take food. These days we call it the “right to an adequate standard of living” and it’s recognized as a universal human right. I don’t think there’s any intimation that such a right entitles somebody to theft, but rather that it puts an onus on governments and institutions to work towards it. edit: Czorry for jumping the debate gun there, Sarcasm. I’ll have to think a bit on the actual question at hand. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2016, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-what-you-think-are-the-most-important-natural-rights/770954/15 "2016-11-07T17:18:36Z")
Right of conscious: the right of an individual to hold or consider a fact, viewpoint, or thought, independent of others’ viewpoints. Right of expression: the right to communicate ones views without fear of governmental or societal interference. Right of self defense: the right to preserve ones own life or the life of others from violence or threat of violence Right of procreation: the right to have children Right of parenting: the right to parent your children in a way you see fit, which does not harm said children. Right of property: the right to create, own, and dispose of property. Right of trade: the right to make exchanges with others, free of coercion There are more but it seems like a good start. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2016, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-what-you-think-are-the-most-important-natural-rights/770954/16 "2016-11-07T17:21:17Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > FDR was a bit more specific, though: > > He was speaking in terms of a hypothetical future society where all people are (by virtue of virtuous government) free from want and therefore nobody would have cause to walk to their neighbor’s house and take food. > > These days we call it the “right to an adequate standard of living” and it’s recognized as a universal human right. I don’t think there’s any intimation that such a right entitles somebody to theft, but rather that it puts an onus on governments and institutions to work towards it. > > edit: Czorry for jumping the debate gun there, Sarcasm. I’ll have to think a bit on the actual question at hand. So he’s cool with theft as long as you get the government to do the thieving ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2016, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-what-you-think-are-the-most-important-natural-rights/770954/17 "2016-11-07T17:26:17Z")
My top one is freedom of bodily autonomy – everyone (adults of sound mind) has (or should have) the right to control who and what has access to their body, and can rescind such access at any time and for any reason. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2016, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-what-you-think-are-the-most-important-natural-rights/770954/18 "2016-11-07T17:28:54Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > My top one is freedom of bodily autonomy – everyone (adults of sound mind) has (or should have) the right to control who and what has access to their body, and can rescind such access at any time and for any reason. NM ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2016, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-what-you-think-are-the-most-important-natural-rights/770954/19 "2016-11-07T17:34:15Z")
I don’t think there are any “natural” rights. Rights are a human construct, not derived from some external source. Does that matter? I only ask because the OP has not defined what he means by “Natural” rights. The DOI posits that rights derive from our creator, which I (and I think most of here) would reject. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2016, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-what-you-think-are-the-most-important-natural-rights/770954/20 "2016-11-07T17:49:04Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I only ask because the OP has not defined what he means by “Natural” rights. The DOI posits that rights derive from our creator, which I (and I think most of here) would reject. I think a common definition would be “Natural rights are those that are not dependent on the laws or customs of any particular culture or government, and therefore universal and inalienable (i.e., rights that cannot be repealed or restrained by human laws).” Again(since this isn’t in Great Debates…yet), if your list derives from a substantially different definition, it would be nice if you mentioned what the difference in your definition was along with the list, just to keep things clear. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-what-you-think-are-the-most-important-natural-rights/770954.md?page=2)