Which of the following statements is correct about 'rights'?

A) A right is essentially an entitlement or a justified claim.
B) It denotes what we are entitled to as citizens, as individuals and as human beings.
C) Everything that a person regards to be necessary and desirable is a right.
D) Smoking or taking banned drugs is a basic right.
E) Rights help individuals to develop their talents and skills.

Choose the correct answer from the given options:

A, B and E

The correct answer is Option 3 - A, B and E

The correct statements are:

A) A right is essentially an entitlement or a justified claim.
B) It denotes what we are entitled to as citizens, as individuals and as human beings.
E) Rights help individuals to develop their talents and skills.

The incorrect statements are:

C) Everything that a person regards to be necessary and desirable is a right is incorrect as everything that a person regards to be necessary and desirable cannot be called a right. Eg. I may want to stay out late at night but this does not mean that I have a right to dress in any way I like at school or to return home when I choose to do so. There is a distinction between what I want and think I am entitled to, and what can be designated as rights.

D) Smoking or taking banned drugs is a basic right is incorrect because if an activity is injurious to our health and well-being it cannot be claimed as a right.

A right is essentially an entitlement or a justified claim. It denotes what we are entitled to as citizens, as individuals and as human beings. It is something that we consider to be due to us; something that the rest of society must recognise as being a legitimate claim that must be upheld. This does not mean that everything that I regard to be necessary and desirable is a right. I may want to wear the clothes of my choice to school rather than the prescribed uniform. I may want to stay out late at night but this does not mean that I have a right to dress in any way I like at school or to return home when I choose to do so. There is a distinction between what I want and think I am entitled to, and what can be designated as rights.

Rights are primarily those claims that I along with others regard to be necessary for leading a life of respect and dignity. In fact, one of the grounds on which rights have been claimed is that they represent conditions that we collectively see as a source of self- respect and dignity. For example, the right to livelihood may be considered necessary for leading a life of dignity. Being gainfully employed gives a person economic independence and thus is central for his/her dignity. Having our basic needs met gives us freedom to pursue our talents and interests. Or, take the right to express ourselves freely. This right gives us the opportunity to be creative and original, whether it be in writing, or dance, or music, or any other creative activity. But freedom of expression is also important for democratic government since it allows for the free expression of beliefs and opinions. Rights such as the right to a livelihood, or freedom of expression, would be important for all human beings who live in society and they are described as universal in nature.

Another ground on which rights have been claimed is that they are necessary for our well-being. They help individuals to develop their talents and skills. A right like the right to education, for instance, helps to develop our capacity to reason, gives us useful skills and enables us to make informed choices in life. It is in this sense that education can be designated as a universal right. However, if an activity is injurious to our health and well-being it cannot be claimed as a right. For instance, since medical research has shown that prohibited drugs are injurious to one’s health and since they affect our relations with others, we cannot insist that we have a right to inhale or inject drugs or smoke tobacco. In the case of smoking it may even be injurious to the health of people who may be around the smoker. Drugs may not only injure our health but they may also sometimes change our behaviour patterns and make us a danger to other people. In terms of our definition of rights, smoking or taking banned drugs cannot be claimed as a right.