Rights and privileges

[Banefull]

We make conclusions based upon what we have seen, learned, or experienced in our environment. We cannot make conclusions without observations. Tradition is an integral part of that influence. In many cases it is not the governing factor of our conclusions but it still plays a role in many others. More often than not our basic understanding of human rights comes from what we have learned. I would probrably be correct in saying that had you been born into a different time period or different place in the world, you not have the same views as you do now.

Now some ideas, some concepts of rights, may be better than others but how do we determine which ones are better? You said that we need to find something that is universally beneficial and accepted and I still maintain that is the golden rule. Or perhaps not so much the golden rule but at least a concept of reciprocal treatment -- "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours". It is the very reason why humans band together. They need collective security, shared resource production, or companionship. At a basic level if someone offers something, then they can expect to have it provided for them also when it is needed. In a hunter gatherer group, most individuals would sacrifice themselves to protect their friends. Each friend has the knowledge that their friends would do the same in turn for them. Without this societies cannot form.