ABSTRACT
There are multiple ethical theories that have been brought forward in Western Philosophy over time. There are also multiple aspects of the human condition that are brought to the fore as critical components of who we are. This essay will examine both in an attempt to justify a preference for rights-based ethics over other approaches. Though this approach has some similarities to Gewirth's conception of human beings as action entities, the underlying argument grounding rights and duties is somewhat different. This essay seeks to step back methodologically to look at the “big picture” of approaching morality from a rights-based point of view rather than some alternative – and what that means for the ultimate outcome from this particular starting point.
