Can equal rights exist or is it an illusion?

George Orwell wrote Animal Farm, the quote "some animals are more equal than others" I think sums up the double standard that the human race will forever struggle with. I think in the literally sense of the letter of the law, equal rights can indeed exist.

However, when you get down to the actual upholding of those rights, man is fallible, and I don't think that we can ever ensure an even distribution or protection of those rights. So in effect, I believe it is a distortion rather then an illusion.

I hope that made a shred of sense... but it's a great question that forces us all to look inside ourselves!

Equality and equal rights are both an illusion in a post modern society! All people are different and have varying abilities, skills, and intellect. Therefore according to naturalism and the survival of the fittest, this leads me to conclude that it is those who have the greatest power who will ultimately prevail. The German Philosopher Nietzsche projected the idea that the concept of equality is a way for those who are weaker to suppress those who are greater. While I do not agree or ascribe to his ideas, if I hold to a naturalistic frame work and believe is the ultimate conclusion and definition of the nature of the universe, this is the appropriate and consistent response.

Pluralism can never gift equality to anyone, even thought it claims that tolerance is the answer. The reason for this is that pluralism exalts the values, beliefs, and opinions of all individuals and cultures to the same level. When all thoughts are equal you will by necessity “include” the thoughts of those who “exclude” others. When considering this idea it is imperative that we realize the fact that the foundation of ALL belief systems excludes the others systems.

Not mentioning the impact of Deconstructionism, Existentialism, and Relativism.

For equal rights to exist you must first start with the question, “what gives rights to the individual, or what is the basis of all rights? Once you find an accurate definition for this you can move on to establish if equal rights can exist.

I for one conclude that there is no sufficient earth based system that can grant equal rights to humanity. These things will never exist as long as we begin and end with humanity as the center of all things.

Equality is not something that can be given or granted by an individual, culture, society, or government. For true rights and equality to exist they must be granted by a source that is not bound by the natural universe.

So I claim that the ultimate curse word is the only solution, “Super Natural Absolute Truth” in the form of The Christ of history who is also the Christ of faith.

Equal rights will remain an illusion until humanity, as a whole, grows up.

Until we learn that the visual is nothing in the big scheme of things and the only thing that matters is the love, compassion, tolerance and empathy that we all have (among other good traits) humans are going to continue to view themselves and their individual race as better than anyone or thing else.

Depends what you mean by "equal rights." It's a term that some people in the gender, civil, disability and human rights community regard with some suspicion, as it does suggest that all people are the same, with the same aspirations and needs.

However, that's no reason to believe that equal quality of life and equitable opportunities cannot be offered to all humans, not at the expense of the planet and the other creatures that we share it with. There are plenty of examples from history of societies using different methods to develop equable distribution of lands and good, equal say for all members of the community, and equal opportunity to achieve their goals within the framework of the community's good.

There's also evidence to suggest that communities living - or striving to live - in this manner experience lower crime rates, fewer crises and higher cultural and social productivity. So not only should a clearly defined concepts of equity be considered, it should be striven for, for the good of all.

It surely is an illusion. Each person is different -- and thus has different rights. It is a legal fiction to say that all have equal rights, sure we can try to "approximate" equality in CERTAIN matters, but we come nowhere close to REAL equality.

I think that people are keeping their biased thoughts to themselves and mentally judging people. Equal rights can exist, but people need to learn to put themselves in other people's shoes, and today's society's got a long way to go... (interesting fact: there hasn't been an equal rights amendment for women)

Equal compare to what and whom?

Naive example: There are ten loaves and ten people, what would be equal split?

Maybe, one loaf to each person! But what about one is fine with half while the other needs more than one?

What about one works to produce three, while another one does nothing?

The same could be for land, freedom, home and house, education, free time, hard work, and so on!

.....

Truly equal rights can never exist because not every single human being can be exactly alike. There will always be people who disagree with everything but the idea of disagreeing.

I think it can exist. Do I think it ever will? Thats a whole different question. Children give everyone equal rights, it is a learned behavior not to.

That depends upon whether you are the one who deprives or the one who is deprived.

If one is in the state of perfect knowledge then it is needless to say that life itself is an illusion.