Jerome E. Jose                                                                                     Feb.06,2009  

BS-IS                                                                                                   Sir.Paul Pajo

Book: Contemporary Moral Problems   

Library Reference: none

            Amazon Link:http://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Moral-Problems-James-White/dp/0495553204/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1233910528&sr=1-1

              Quote: “ 

“Not all legal rights or an even constitutional right represents moral rights against the government.”

                What I expect to learn:  

• I expect to learn everything about the value of people’s right and to Mr. Ronald Dworkin

                Review:

 Ronald Dworkin menrioned that we don’t have the right to stop anyone from doing something that he/she want. Meaning this are the rights that are under the legal systems for example individual rights of free speech, equality and due process and the like.  For example, anyone has the right to form an assembly and express our self.; we should not interfere with him. It is his rights. But if the man obstructs other rights, then it is the time you can stop him. If he joined rally, and this rally violates the right of other people, you can prevent the man for exercising his right. I think what the quote above tries to explain is that as a human being, we all have rights. We all have the capability in exercising our rights. But we in doing so, we should not cause destruction to other rights and harm with other people. Legal rights are, clearly, rights which exist under the rules of legal systems. As an addition it is also called moral rights or inalienable rights, are rights which are not contingent upon the laws, customs, or beliefs or a particular society or polity.

                 What I've learned:

I have now deeply understood the true meaning of Taking Rights Seriously that Ronald Dworkin is talking  about 

                Integrative Questions:

1. Do we need to follow the government just to say that we have our rights?
2. Does the right of free speech protect this sort of speech?
3. What are controversial rights?
4. What are the rights of citizens?
5. Is it wrong to break the law?Why or Why not?

1. What does Dworkin mean by rights in the strong sense? What rights in this sense are protected by the USA Constitution?     

          No one has the right to stop anyone from doing something that we want. Its our own freedom. 

2. Distinguish between legal and moral rights. Give some examples of legal rights that are not moral rights, and moral rights that are not legal rights.

          Legal rights has someething to do with our laws ehile moral rights are rights based on our society like abortion, etc. 

3. What are the two models of how a government might define the rights of its citizens? Which does Dworkin find more attractive?

• The first model recommends striking a balance between rights of the individual and the demands of society
• The second one is that the government inflates a right.

4. According to Dworkin, what two important ideas are behind the institution of rights?

• Act of faith by the Majorities and Minorities