Real easy method to deal with undesirables.
I believe the respect and dignity I mentioned is a natural right. Which means you get it simply by existing.
The right to defend yourself is a natural right - you do not need any state or person to tell you that such a right belongs to you, it exists and is yours regardless of where you are, the laws of the place you exist, regardless of whether even you believe it or not. It simply is. And all humans enjoy that right; now you could well be prosecuted for it or punished for exercising it, but that doesn't mean you don't have it.
Likewise, all sapient beings (humans just being the only ones we know of for sure; some large mammals like whales and possibly aliens could also show sapience) are entitled to a certain amount of respect and dignity. I believe any being deserves that respect and dignity regardless of all other circumstances. It doesn't matter whether your society or culture respects it or not, whether they believe it exists, whether you or others think you are a sub-human being and not entitled to anything other than a bullet to the head. It's still a right bestowed on you simply by existing as a sapient being.
EDIT: Quick Wikipedia reference on natural and legal rights -
Natural and legal rights are two types of rights. Natural rights are those that are not dependent on the laws or customs of any particular culture or government, and so are universal and inalienable (they cannot repealed or restrained by human laws). Legal rights are those bestowed onto a person by a given legal system (they can be modified, repealed, and restrained by human laws).
I believe the respect and dignity I mentioned is a natural right. Which means you get it simply by existing.
The right to defend yourself is a natural right - you do not need any state or person to tell you that such a right belongs to you, it exists and is yours regardless of where you are, the laws of the place you exist, regardless of whether even you believe it or not. It simply is. And all humans enjoy that right; now you could well be prosecuted for it or punished for exercising it, but that doesn't mean you don't have it.
Likewise, all sapient beings (humans just being the only ones we know of for sure; some large mammals like whales and possibly aliens could also show sapience) are entitled to a certain amount of respect and dignity. I believe any being deserves that respect and dignity regardless of all other circumstances. It doesn't matter whether your society or culture respects it or not, whether they believe it exists, whether you or others think you are a sub-human being and not entitled to anything other than a bullet to the head. It's still a right bestowed on you simply by existing as a sapient being.
EDIT: Quick Wikipedia reference on natural and legal rights -
> Natural and legal rights are two types of rights. Natural rights are those that are not dependent on the laws or customs of any particular culture or government, and so are universal and inalienable (they cannot repealed or restrained by human laws). Legal rights are those bestowed onto a person by a given legal system (they can be modified, repealed, and restrained by human laws).
No problem. I've been wanting to do a long form write-up on some philosophical issues like this as a way of talking in-depth about my political philosophy (Libertarianism). So I might do that at some point.
Also, threads like these are the best ones, I think. The ones that get us thinking and talking to each other so we can actually learn a bit about each other, rather than just posting a link and moving on (as most of my own posts are). So thanks for starting it, since I like reading what everyone else has to say too.
No problem. I've been wanting to do a long form write-up on some philosophical issues like this as a way of talking in-depth about my political philosophy (Libertarianism). So I might do that at some point.
Also, threads like these are the best ones, I think. The ones that get us thinking and talking to each other so we can actually learn a bit about each other, rather than just posting a link and moving on (as most of my own posts are). So thanks for starting it, since I like reading what everyone else has to say too.
You honestly believe people are entitled.. well anything? How does that even make sense? The only thing people are entitled to is the inevitability of death.