Our next class meeting will be on Sunday, March 15.
(No class this Sunday.)
Last time, we covered the following:
- Homework discussion on how evil means corrupt good ends
- Principles of Justice, using some activities, a slide show, and class discussion
- Quick peek ahead at Freedom and its connection with happiness
The Principles of Justice are:
- Principle of Natural Rights: “All human beings in themselves (because of their existence alone) have the inalienable right to life, liberty, and property ownership. No government gives these rights, and no government can take them away.”
- Principle of the Hierarchy of Rights: “Any right which is a necessary condition for the very possibility of another right’s existence is the more fundamental right. In a conflict of rights, the more fundamental right should take priority.”
- Principle of Limits to Freedom: “Creating a new right for some people is wrong if it becomes a burdensome duty for others.” (One person’s right cannot become another person’s duty to die, suffer, or be unfairly burdened.)
Natural Rights -- key points:
- Natural rights belong to us by our nature as human persons, because of the kind of being we are. They are directed to the fulfillment or perfection of our nature.
- Another way to think of them is that they are about the right way to treat human persons.
- They are prior to the state, which means that we have them in ourselves, from our Creator. They are not given to us by the government, a vote of the people, etc.
- A primary duty and purpose of government is to protect our natural rights.
- They cannot be taken away by any person, law, or government, though they can be violated.
- Examples: Life, liberty, property / "pursuit of happiness", rights recognized in the Bill of Rights.
- Distinct from legal rights such as voting, driving on public roads
- Natural rights are hierarchical since some are more fundamental than others (e.g. life is more fundamental than liberty)
- In a conflict of rights, the more fundamental one takes precedence.
- If there is not respect for both our natural rights and for the hierarchy of rights, disputes will be decided in a self-serving way and often by force.
- Please see the resources post at the class blog for a couple of quotes from the CCC that provide more insight on these points.
Freedom:
We'll be discussing this more fully next time, but I introduced the concepts of "freedom from" vs. "freedom for." Consider the contrast between the two.
Class handouts:
- Excerpts from either the "Declaration of Independence" (1776) or the UN "Universal Declaration of Human Rights" (1948)
- Hierarchy of Rights Graphic Organizer
Homework:
- Come up with an example of a common way in which people may violate the hierarchy of rights without even thinking about it. For example, reckless driving (liberty) can endanger others (life).
- You have the right to resist an unjust law. Find out about and bring to class an instance of when someone resisted an unjust law.
If you missed the class or want to review, please see the resources post at the class blog. I also have a class recording and can send you the handout as well. Contact me to request these.
Future class schedule:
The complete class schedule is posted at the class blog.
Blessings,
Suchi / Mrs. Myjak
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