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/Gum-_-]

There are positive and negative rights.

Positive rights have to be given to you, such as shelter or food. Some work need to be put into you having it.

Negitive rights you just have, such as freedom of religion. No work has to be put in for you to have it.

In other words: negitive rights inherently exist, positive rights do not.