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Philosophy 325:

Early Western Rights Timeline

This chart is based in large part on Richard Tuck, Natural Rights Theories: Their Origin and Development (Cambridge: C. U. P., 1979)

Timeline

Early Romans: Recipient of favorable judgment, often over property dispute

13th c.: Passive, Claim

14th c.: Active; property in nature; Dominican instead of Franciscan position.

16th c.: Renaissance humanist lawyers (law and rights are Man's creations) and Calvinists (Man's law under command of God): Objective, not natural

17th c.: Hugo Grotius. Sociability and Order (principle of occupation) in nature lead to natural, active rights.

Selden (natural laws mostly permissive, not obligatory, thus stress on contract) and Hobbes.

Radicals (Levelers), via Grotius' idea that we should apply interpretive charity to original contract; and Locke

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Timeline
Early Romans: Recipient of favorable judgment, often over property dispute		13th c.: Passive, Claim

14th c.: Active; property in nature; Dominican instead of Franciscan position.		16th c.: Renaissance humanist lawyers (law and rights are Man's creations) and Calvinists (Man's law under command of God): Objective, not natural

17th c.: Hugo Grotius. Sociability and Order (principle of occupation) in nature lead to natural, active rights.		Selden (natural laws mostly permissive, not obligatory, thus stress on contract) and Hobbes.

		Radicals (Levelers), via Grotius' idea that we should apply interpretive charity to original contract; and Locke