Joel Feinberg: The Nature and Value of Rights

Name of the Book: Contemporary Moral Problems

Library Reference: N/A

Amazon Link:

http://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Moral-Problems-James-White/dp/0495553204/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1233910528&sr=1-1

Quote:

“ As we shall see, a right is a kind of claim, and a claim is “ an assertion of

right,” so that a formal definition of either notion in terms of the other will not get us

very far. “ By: Joel Feinberg

Learning Expectations:

1. Expects to learn about Nature of Rights.

2. Expects to learn more Rights.

3. Expects to learn what is being argued in this chapter of this book.

4. Expects to learn about Value of Rights.

5. Expects to learn what’s the difference of the authors’ point of view and my point

of view.

Book Review:

In this chapter the author talks about the rights of people are morally important.

The author imagines Nowheresville while he is thinking about the rights of people being

morally important.

He also discusses on how it would be appealing to Kant. Because he is telling that

Kant would not appreciate it because Kant needs duty to be happy and without duty then

there wouldn’t be happiness. So the author introduce the idea of duty into it, and letting

the sense of duty be a sufficient motive for many beneficent and honorable actions. It also

states here that some people only do their duty because they have to and there is a law

that is enforced. But some follow their freewill.

Things I have learned:

I have learned that there is a big difference about nature and rights and for me its

difficult to be done if both is combined because right is your free will while nature has its

own will.

Integrative Questions:

1. What is personal desert?

2. Where is Nowheresville?

3. Is there really such place?

4. What are the disadvantages and advantages of a world without rights?

5. What are claim-rights?

Review Questions:

1. Describe Nowheresville. How is this world different from our world?

2. Explain the doctrine of the logical correlativity of rights and duties. What

is Feinberg’s opinion on this doctrine?

3. How does Feinberg explain the concept of personal desert? How does

personal desert work in Nowheresville?

4. Explain the notion of a sovereign right-monopoly. How would this work

in Nowheresville?

5. What are claim rights? Why does Feinberg think they are morally

important?

Discussion Questions:

1. Does Feinberg make a convincing case for the importance of rights? Why or

why not?

2. Can you give a noncircular definition of claim right?