Henry Shue’s Account of Basic Rights

Shue’s Account of Basic Rights
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Shue’s Account of Basic Rights
1 Introduction
Since the development of this world, various national and international platforms have been working vigilantly to propagate basic human rights. Shue’s account of fundamental rights is a highly influential philosophical exploration of human rights’ moral and political dimensions. Henry Shue was an American political scientist who penned down the essential elements of a rights-based approach to social and political life. Shue argues that society must recognize certain rights for all citizens to be just and equitable. The writer believes that those depressed and devastated due to wars must be helped and provided aid for their protection. He further explains how such rights should be protected, promoted, and enforced to secure the fundamental interests of individuals and communities (Kiper 2011: P 2). This essay will analyze Shue’s account of basic rights and their implications for justice, morality, and citizen autonomy.
2 Discussion and Analysis
Basic rights are fundamental rights and are necessary for the protection of individuals to lead a life of dignity, autonomy, and freedom. The concept of fundamental rights first emerged during the Enlightenment period in the European context. According to philosopher Henry Shue, fundamental rights refer to the rights necessary to ensure the human experience is just and fair. Henry Shue has provided an influential account of fundamental rights which incorporate the rights of protection from serious harm, the right to necessities of life, and freedom from coercion. The rights of autonomy, to influence public policy decisions, to participate in the political process, to secure employment, to get an education, to have Henry Shue also discusses clean air and water. According to Shue, these are the fundamental rights necessary to ensure that human beings can lead a life of dignity and freedom.
Shue’s account of fundamental rights is highly relevant in the modern world as it provides a basis for understanding the pertinence of safeguarding prominent human rights. Comprehending fundamental human rights is essential to ensure the dignity and freedom of individuals to live their lives in standard ways. The framework developed by the philosopher is one of the practical tools to protect individuals’ rights and ensure their salvage. The duties referred to by the philosopher pose a responsibility to people with power and wealth to further their support to those with a dearth of resources and energy (Churchill 2011: P1). The temptation and inducement of the safeguard of basic rights get consolidated by the information, and knowledge one attains through the fundamental rights explanation compiled by Shue.
The professor claimed that the pursuit of the struggle to attain a healthy lifestyle is the right of everyone. The writer initiated positive requests to safeguard humanity and encourage people to fight for their rights. His views favour the fact that society lies in the struggle for acknowledgement of the rights and duties of each other. The right to ...