Comparison of the Utilitarian and Natural Right Schools of Thought The concept of liberty may vary due to whom you are speaking to. It can be separated into two dominant philosophical principles; utilitarianism and natural rights. The natural rights’ school believes that all human beings possess fundamental rights, such as the right to life, and that these rights should not be taken away under any circumstances (Malcolmson et al., 8). Utilitarianism wants to ensure happiness of the majority and will make decision based on this standard (Malcolmson et al., 9). In contrast to utilitarianism, natural rights support that every human being is born with rights that cannot be taken away from them (Malcolmson et al., 8). Utilitarianism counter argues …show more content…
Liberal democracies have, at their base, the belief that humans have the right to make decision for themselves and are able to use reason at an equal capacity in a political context (Class notes). Liberal democracies go by the rule of law; that laws should hold governments accountable and must be applied uniformly and objectively to all citizens (Malcolmson et al., 10–11). Natural rights fit best with this principle since natural rights believe everyone to be equal, since they are giving them the same rights at birth (Malcolmson et al., 8). Furthermore, they also prohibit unfair treatment of minorities (Malcolmson et al., 10). Utilitarianism, due to their conviction that the majority’s happiness should come first, might treat unequally those who are not part of the majority (Malcolmson et al., 9). Conclusively, this political ideology believes in the private sphere’s protection Malcolmson et al., 10). This concept fits well with natural rights due to its protection of the people’s right to free speech. For example, the government cannot tell them what religion they should be with or who they should marry Malcolmson et al., 10). By enforcing fundamental rights, the school of natural rights limit the power of the government (Malcolmson et al.,