Rights that people possess simply by being human, independent of government or society's recognition. These typically include life, liberty, and property, and are considered universal, inherent, and unalienable.
The concept traces to ancient Stoic philosophy but was developed by Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke (1632-1704). The phrase itself emerged in 17th-century political philosophy as an alternative to divine right theory.
John Locke's natural rights theory literally launched the American Revolution—when Jefferson wrote that 'all men are created equal' with 'unalienable rights,' he was channeling Locke's radical idea that rights come from nature, not kings! This concept demolished centuries of royal authority and still powers human rights movements today.
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