ABSTRACT
This chapter defines the rights and duties approach to ethics and discusses the meaning and importance of human rights. It also discusses Kant's views in more detail. Kant emphasizes the duty to be consistent in our ethical rules and to treat all humans with proper respect. Some natural rights philosophers put at least as much emphasis on duties as on rights. First, human rights is a term that is used very loosely. The concept has roots extending back hundreds of years, and is built into the American legal system as a foundation. The human right to dignity also includes protection against such things as slavery and torture, and some right to privacy. Second, legal rights are granted to citizens of a government unit or to corporations or other groups by law. Third, position rights are granted to chief financial officer can terminate an employee for unsatisfactory performance, as well as the duty to do so.
