
TAW122
Emissary of the right to die.
- Aug 30, 2018
- 6,957
In many previous threads I have discussed about how positive and negative liberties rights are important and one of the core, most important things is just to prevent the State (or any entity, third party with power) from impinging or infringing on said right(s), without provocation or good reason. However, this thread is to explain the logic and concept behind negative and positive liberty rights to help people understand the need for the right to die and the reality in which we live in. As a quick, brief recap, here are the definitions of positive and negative liberty rights in simple terms. A positive liberty right is a right that is granted by another entity (in this case, the State) for the individual or collective (group). A negative liberty right is a right to be free from impingement and is not explicitly granted by another entity (the State), in other words, freedom from interference or constraints by others (the State, other parties, other people, etc.).
The situation as follows (in modern day reality):
So here is the situation and perhaps it is preaching to the choir to some degree, but most of us already know we live in a pro-life, prohibitive society, especially when it comes to the right to die on our own terms. In an utopic reality though, there would not be the need for a positive liberty right and no one is obligated (not even the State) to provide one (which I don't fully agree with as I fully support the right to die being a positive liberty right, but I digress… that's a different topic for another thread), but one's individual rights, especially their negative liberty rights would be honored and not infringed, interfered, or impinged upon.
Nevertheless in our current reality, not only do we not have a guarantee of freedom from impingement on our negative liberty rights (especially when it comes to the right to die on our own terms), the fact that we have to act in secrecy and even take great risks with DIY (all while avoiding others that may try to intrude, impinge, or otherwise interfere with our exercise of said liberty, notwithstanding all other factors and circumstances…), means that we DON'T currently have our negative liberty rights, and therefore, the demand for the positive liberty right (MAID, Death with Dignity, Dignitas, and similar organizations, processes, policies, programs, etc.) is needed as a solution and remedy for the lack of guaranteed negative liberty rights.
So in summary and conclusion, this thread explains the logic behind why there is a need for a positive liberty right, especially when negative liberty rights are not (truly and realistically) honored, respected. There shouldn't necessarily be an obligation for a positive liberty right if there are negative liberty rights (especially if they are honored), but in reality because negative liberty rights are NOT honored, the obligation for a positive liberty right becomes a necessity, which is a solution to a problem that is created even though in an more utopic universe, said problem would never have existed nor been a thing if there was simply just respect for negative liberty rights! In our current reality because we don't have either (in most jurisdictions and even those who have MAID or similar programs are often narrow in criteria and limited in practical applications – those who are terminally ill or near death and still a lot of red tape, hoops to jump through), thus we have people who suffer or try to escape (either succeeding (some) or failing (most) their attempts) and causing collateral damage for the survivors. There would not be a need or necessity if we merely don't have the State (or any third party with power or authority) to impinge on our negative liberty rights!
The situation as follows (in modern day reality):
So here is the situation and perhaps it is preaching to the choir to some degree, but most of us already know we live in a pro-life, prohibitive society, especially when it comes to the right to die on our own terms. In an utopic reality though, there would not be the need for a positive liberty right and no one is obligated (not even the State) to provide one (which I don't fully agree with as I fully support the right to die being a positive liberty right, but I digress… that's a different topic for another thread), but one's individual rights, especially their negative liberty rights would be honored and not infringed, interfered, or impinged upon.
Nevertheless in our current reality, not only do we not have a guarantee of freedom from impingement on our negative liberty rights (especially when it comes to the right to die on our own terms), the fact that we have to act in secrecy and even take great risks with DIY (all while avoiding others that may try to intrude, impinge, or otherwise interfere with our exercise of said liberty, notwithstanding all other factors and circumstances…), means that we DON'T currently have our negative liberty rights, and therefore, the demand for the positive liberty right (MAID, Death with Dignity, Dignitas, and similar organizations, processes, policies, programs, etc.) is needed as a solution and remedy for the lack of guaranteed negative liberty rights.
So in summary and conclusion, this thread explains the logic behind why there is a need for a positive liberty right, especially when negative liberty rights are not (truly and realistically) honored, respected. There shouldn't necessarily be an obligation for a positive liberty right if there are negative liberty rights (especially if they are honored), but in reality because negative liberty rights are NOT honored, the obligation for a positive liberty right becomes a necessity, which is a solution to a problem that is created even though in an more utopic universe, said problem would never have existed nor been a thing if there was simply just respect for negative liberty rights! In our current reality because we don't have either (in most jurisdictions and even those who have MAID or similar programs are often narrow in criteria and limited in practical applications – those who are terminally ill or near death and still a lot of red tape, hoops to jump through), thus we have people who suffer or try to escape (either succeeding (some) or failing (most) their attempts) and causing collateral damage for the survivors. There would not be a need or necessity if we merely don't have the State (or any third party with power or authority) to impinge on our negative liberty rights!