October 20, 2006
There is no right to food
No matter what the UN says. Of course, I don't believe there are any basic human rights, so that kind of follows, doesn't it?
Of course, one does not have to believe that there is a right to food to think that millions starving shames someone (not that you asserted the contrary).
Posted by: rob at October 20, 2006 11:09 AMQuestion: what do you mean? is that disbelief in human rights based on the nature of human beings, that something about us has effaced us of any sort of defense against injustice? or something else?
Posted by: jCave at October 20, 2006 11:10 AMrob: of course not. But see below.
justin: I don't believe in human rights because I don't think they're any kind of metaphysical object that I can make work. What kind of thing is a "right", where do they come from, and how would you know one if you stumbled across it at 2:00AM? I just don't see God investing us with certain "rights" anywhere in Scripture. I do, however, believe in human duties, imposed upon is by virtue of our relationship to God and status as image-bearers. So while you don't have the right to be alive, I have the duty to God not to kill you. And while you don't have the right to eat, I may have the duty to God to feed you. So while Africans don't have the right to eat any more than I do, it is probably my duty to God, as one to whom much has been given, to work as much as is feasible to make sure that they can eat. How that works out practically is subject to disagreement, but the basic duty is there.
Posted by: ryan at October 20, 2006 11:55 AMgood enough.
Posted by: jCave at October 20, 2006 1:19 PM