Natural Rights

Definition

Natural Rights are basic rights that every individual is born with and cannot be taken away. These include life, liberty, and property, as proposed by philosopher John Locke.

Related terms

John Locke: An influential Enlightenment thinker often known as the "Father of Liberalism"; he proposed the concept of natural rights.

Social Contract: A theory that individuals have consented either explicitly or tacitly to surrender some of their freedoms in exchange for protection of their remaining rights.

Bill of Rights: The first ten amendments to the United States Constitution; they guarantee certain freedoms and rights, embodying the concept of natural rights.