Because, as old Karl says, it involves the application of an equal standard to unequal things. I was really just applying Marx's point in the CGP to food "rights" here. Hakki caight that right way.
The distinction you
>make below seems more a concrete application of the prinicple that
>humans can make a claim on food.
But it's misleading to put it that way. You can say sensibly that people have a right to means to live, and that can be realized by ensuring that they get what they need to get those means. No problem there. But if you say, a right to food, you raise the question, what food and how much? What do I have a right to if I have a right to food? And were are my lobster tails?
I've no knowledge of perhaps
>the specialized discourse on rights, but having a right a_to_ something
>is probably as difficult to discuss as freedom _to_ , but it shouldn't
>preclude identifying general rights or freedoms.
Sure. You have to identify them sensibly, though,
jks
>
>
> > The difference is this: a right to something is roughly a claim to that
> > thing that can't be taken away from you without violating justice. But
> > "food" is perishable and the needs for are very varied. Do my kids have
>a
> > right to all the pizza and ice cream they can eat? Or just to enough
>tofu
> > and rice to sustain life?
> >
> > You have to be able to say what the right is _to_, you see, or the claim
> > that there is a right is empty. By contrast, if we say that everyone has
>a
> > right to enough money to live a decent life, whether in the formof a job
> > that pays reasonable remuneration or direct grants, we have something
>that
> > we can actually sensibly guarantee and provide. If you have a right to a
>job
> > or a subsidy, and you don;t have it, you can make a demand for something
> > specific and get it. If you claim a right to "food," what are you
>claiming?
> > Me, I claim a right to lobster tails, truffles, and caviar. Give it to
>me.
> >
>
>
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