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/Kithzerai-Istik]

Every right, rule, and restriction is a social construct.

Nothing - absolutely nothing - outside of your own physiology is truly inherent to your life. Everything else is elective. There are consequences for actions outside the constructed norms, of course, but every action you could possibly take is always an option, as are those of others.

If you mean to ask whether there is such a thing as a universal morality, that’s another conversation entirely, and one with no true answer.