HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE IDEA OF NATURAL RIGHTS

Abstract

Based on the findings of other publications, this paper attempts to assess whether the ideas of natural rights and human rights can be understood as identical. The first part of the paper outlines, from a historical perspective, the idea of natural rights; the second part presents elements of the conception of human rights. The third part sets out arguments against considering these two ideas as equivalent. The assumption that a better understanding of the conception of human rights can be obtained by demonstrating its relationship with other ideas will contribute to achieving the objective.

Keywords

• natural rights
• human rights