PHIL 338. Homework Assignment #2 (15 Points—Due in class on Friday June 27).

Negative and Positive Rights

NOTE: TO RECEIVE FULL CREDIT, YOU MUST ATTEND CLASS READY TO DISCUSS THE HOMEWORK (UNLESS YOUR ABSENCE IS EXCUSED). DO NOT SKIP SECTION OR COME LATE TO SECTION IN ORDER TO FINISH YOUR HOMEWORK. IF YOU DO, YOU WILL RECEIVE AN EXTRA PENALTY ON YOUR GRADE FOR THE ASSIGNMENT.

1. Pick an important right included in the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights that contains both negative and positive elements. (In this assignment, you have to do the best you can to interpret the right you have chosen as those who signed the U.N. Declaration would have interpreted it.)

2. (5 Points) Explain what a negative right is. Give examples of the negative elements in the right you selected in your answer to #1 and explain why they are negative.

3. (5 Points) Explain what a positive right is. Give examples of the positive elements in the right you selected in your answer to #1 and explain why they are positive.

4. (5 Points) Consider the following three positions: (a) Some negative rights are more basic than any positive rights; (b) Some positive rights are more basic than any negative rights; or (c) The most basic rights include both negative and positive elements and both are equally important. Which of these three positions is closest to your own position? Explain.