Costanza comments on Positive Thinking - Less Wrong

20 Post author: Swimmer963 07 March 2011 01:03AM

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Comment author: Costanza 10 March 2011 05:35:05PM *  -1 points [-]

Maybe "violating" is the wrong word to use in this context. I would rather say that everyone has certain rights -- such as freedom from imprisonment -- conditioned on (for example) not violating other people's rights -- as in killing or assaulting them.

P.S. Also, societies deprive minors and the incompetent from some rights for their own protection. I don't think we want to live in a world in which a slick salesperson could commit a ten year old or an advanced Alzheimer's patient to an expensive fifty year contract.

Comment author: DavidAgain 11 March 2011 07:44:33PM 1 point [-]

And we also deprive everyday people of certain rights for their own protection: the right of free contract is limited. For instance, I can't sign a contract with a clause saying that if I break it the other party has the right to my unpaid labour in perputuity. Similarly, I can't sell my organs, at least in this country.