Libertarians since Thomas Jefferson have talked about natural, inalienable rights to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and more. We entertain the correct view that our rights are so numerous that they couldn’t all be named in any manifesto or treatise.
The only problem is that, since rights are so numerous and can’t all be named in any one place, those wishing to invade our true rights start inventing false ones like rights to healthcare or education or to lock us in our homes until they feel safe from a virus they believe we might be carrying.
In this episode, I suggest that we stop thinking and talking about rights as separate and distinct principles and return to the source of our philosophy and a concept that might help us more clearly understand and articulate our positions.
