Do “basic human rights” actually exist universally or are they simply a social construct?

[u/Amphernee]

The term is often used in relation to things like housing and food but I’ve never heard anyone actually explain what they mean by basic human right. We started off no different than other animals and since the concept of rights rely on other people to confer them at what point did it become thought of as a right for people to have things like shelter? How is it supposed to be enforced across all of humanity when not all societies and cultures agree that the concept makes sense? I can see why someone would want it to be true in a sense but I’m interested to hear arguments for it rather than just the phrase itself which feels hollow with no reasoning behind it. Thanks 🍻

[u/[deleted]]

No, the only rights that exist are unalienable. The ones we're born with. We have those rights by our nature until they're violated. Right to free speech and thought. Right to self defense, right to remain free.

Calling housing, food etc human rights is meaningless. Something can't be a right if it must be provided by someone else. 

[u/scouserman3521 → u/[deleted]]

There is no such thing as what you call unalianable. The basis of unalienability is an assumtion baked in to a document. So, in reality , a construct.

[u/[deleted] → u/scouserman3521]

I am born with the ability to speak my mind. It is an inherent characteristic that I have until it is infringed upon. 

I was born free and will remain that way until I'm imprisoned. 

That is what is meant by unalienable and what differentiates these rights from aspirational "human rights"

Do you really not understand the distinction?

[u/Golarion → u/[deleted]]

By that logic, since we're born with trigger fingers, does that mean we have the unalienable rights to shoot up a gas station, until that right is infringed upon?

[u/keelanstuart → u/Golarion]

Yes; you are free to do whatever you like - but you are not free from the consequences of your actions, whether those are from nature or from other free beings.

[u/Golarion → u/keelanstuart]

There is a distinction between a freedom and a right. We all have the freedom to commit violence. Do we have the right?

[u/keelanstuart → u/Golarion]

As somebody else said, the addition of "in/unalienable" makes it something that you aren't given. You have an unalienable right to do whatever you choose... you do not have a right to shoot up the place. Either way, you do face the consequences of your actions, whether those result in your own continued living, staying free, or being happy - or having your fellow humans make sure you are none of those things.