Rights are what we may expect from others, and others from us, who said it
Understanding Rights in Political Theory
The question asks to identify the political theorist who defined rights as "what we may expect from others, and others from us". This particular formulation emphasizes the reciprocal nature of rights within a society. It suggests that rights are not merely individual entitlements but are intrinsically linked to duties and mutual expectations among members of a community.
Attribution of the Quote on Rights
The quote, "Rights are what we may expect from others, and others from us," is widely attributed to the prominent British liberal political theorist and sociologist, Leonard Trelawny Hobhouse. Hobhouse was a key figure in the development of New Liberalism, which advocated for social reforms and a more interventionist state to promote individual liberty and social welfare. His view on rights reflects his broader philosophy that individual freedom and social well-being are interconnected and depend on mutual recognition and cooperation.
Hobhouse's perspective on rights highlights that they arise from social relations and are meaningful only within a framework of mutual recognition and respect. My rights impose duties on others, and their rights impose duties on me. This reciprocal understanding distinguishes it from purely individualistic or state-centric views of rights.
Examining the Options
Let's briefly consider why the other options, while significant figures in political thought, are not typically associated with this specific definition of rights:
- Laski: Harold Laski was a British political theorist associated with democratic socialism. While he wrote extensively on rights, liberty, and the state, his definitions of rights often focused on their relation to state recognition and the conditions for individual development, rather than this specific emphasis on mutual expectation.
- Green: T.H. Green was another influential British Idealist and New Liberal thinker. His concept of rights was closely tied to his idea of the common good and the moral development of individuals within society. While his work paved the way for understanding social rights, this particular phrase is not his most characteristic definition of rights.
- Plato: Plato, the ancient Greek philosopher, discussed justice and the ideal state extensively. However, his framework of rights was very different from modern liberal conceptions, focusing more on the individual's role and duties within the rigid structure of his ideal republic rather than on mutual expectations between individuals in the modern sense.
Based on scholarly attribution in political theory, the quote precisely reflects the views expressed by L.T. Hobhouse regarding the nature of rights.
Summary of Theorists and Rights Concepts
Here is a brief look at the general areas of thought on rights by the listed theorists:
| Theorist | Key Ideas on Rights |
|---|---|
| L.T. Hobhouse | Rights as mutual expectations and reciprocities; linked to social cooperation and welfare. |
| Harold Laski | Rights as conditions necessary for individual development recognized by the state; emphasis on economic and social rights. |
| T.H. Green | Rights grounded in the common good and necessary for moral development; paved the way for social rights. |
| Plato | Focus on duties and roles within the state structure; concept of rights differs significantly from modern liberal views. |
Therefore, the statement "Rights are what we may expect from others, and others from us" is a definition attributed to L.T. Hobhouse.
Revision Table: Key Theorists on Rights
Revisiting the main points about these thinkers and their perspectives on rights is crucial for exam preparation.
- L.T. Hobhouse: Reciprocal expectations, social basis of rights.
- Harold Laski: State recognition, conditions for development.
- T.H. Green: Common good, moral development, social rights precursor.
- Plato: Duties within the ideal state, not modern reciprocal rights.
Additional Information on L.T. Hobhouse and Rights
L.T. Hobhouse's work on rights is found in his major works like "Liberalism" (1911). He argued against extreme individualism and laissez-faire economics, believing that true liberty required positive state action to ensure basic social and economic conditions. His definition of rights as mutual expectations fits into this view, emphasizing social interdependence and the need for collective action to secure individual freedom and welfare. This understanding of rights as reciprocal obligations is a cornerstone of New Liberal thought.
Important Questions from Miscellaneous
A stone is thrown horizontally from the top of a 20 m high building with a speed of 12 m/s. It hits the ground at a distance R from the building. Taking g = 10 m/s2 and neglecting air resistance will give :
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A railway wagon (open at the top) of mass M1 is moving with speed v1 along a straight track. As a result of rain, after some time it gets partially filled with water so that the mass of the wagon becomes M2 and speed becomes v2. Taking the rain to be falling vertically and the water stationery inside the wagon, the relation between the two speeds v1 and v2 is :
Consider the following statements:
1. Distance between the longitudes becomes zero on North Pole and South Pole.
2. Distance between the longitudes is maximum on the Equator.
3. Number of longitudes is more than number of latitudes.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
One block of 2⋅0 kg mass is placed on top of another block of 3⋅0 kg mass. The coefficient of static friction between the two blocks is 0⋅2. The bottom block is pulled with a horizontal force F such that both the blocks move together without slipping. Taking acceleration due to gravity as 10 m/s2, the maximum value of the frictional force is :
