What does the concept of natural rights assert?

The concept of natural rights asserts that all humans are inherently entitled to certain fundamental rights simply by being human. This idea, significantly influenced by Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke, posits that every individual is born with the right to life, liberty, and property. Natural rights are universal and cannot be legitimately taken away by governments or other entities, as they are intrinsic to human existence.

This philosophical foundation has had a profound impact on democratic principles, particularly in the formation of modern legal systems and declarations of rights, such as the Declaration of Independence in the United States. The belief in natural rights underlines the importance of individual freedoms and the idea that governments are created to protect these rights rather than grant them.

The other options do not align with the premise of natural rights; they suggest variations in rights based on laws, social class, or citizenship status, which contradicts the fundamental egalitarian principle that natural rights apply equally to all humans.