Critique of the doctrine of inalienable, natural rights

Resumo

A classical text, with a vehement attack of Jeremy Bentham on the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, in general, and to the notion of natural rights, out of the state, in particular. There is one of the logical elements of the utilitarian proposition, regarding the general public interest, or the maximization of happiness and well-being of all, as prior and more important than anything, including the notion of natural rights. Nowadays, the same logic is used when some governments try to oppose the general public interest to the need of eliminating or reducing social and economic rights of the population.