An approach to ethics that grounds moral evaluation in individual rights and entitlements rather than consequences or virtues. It prioritizes protecting fundamental rights even when doing so might not maximize overall welfare.
From Old English 'riht' (just, proper) and 'base' from Greek 'basis' (foundation). This approach developed prominently in the 20th century through philosophers like Nozick and Dworkin, building on earlier natural rights traditions.
Rights-based ethics explains why democracy isn't just majority rule - even if 99% of people want to silence the remaining 1%, that minority still has rights that can't be voted away! It puts certain things beyond the reach of popular opinion.
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