The language of rights is utilized frequently in debates over contemporary social issues?a fetus's ?right to life? versus a woman's ?right to choose,? for example. Because these debates pertain to what our social policies should be, it is clear that the rights in question are moral rights, and that existing legal rights ought to be changed or maint
John Rowan is assistant professor of philosophy at Purdue University Calumet. His research focuses on ethical theory, applied ethics, and professional ethics