What are natural rights, and how do they differ from legal rights? In this episode of Foundations of Liberty on The Chris Spangle Show, Chris breaks down core Libertarian principles on rights, freedom, and government power. Learn about natural rights, legal rights, negative vs. positive rights, property rights, and why Libertarians argue that rights come from our nature—not the state. This deep dive explores thinkers like John Locke, Cicero, and Thomas Aquinas, plus key moments in history that shaped America’s founding ideas of liberty and self-government.
00:00 Penn and Meade: The Trial for Religious Freedom
01:12 Bushel's Case and Jury Independence
01:47 Do Rights Come From Government?
02:52 Foundations of Liberty: Introducing Rights
03:43 Natural Rights vs. Legal Rights Explained
04:45 Brief History of Natural Rights
06:48 Examples of Natural Rights in Daily Life
07:03 What Are Legal Rights?
09:41 How Rights Philosophies Evolved
11:12 Natural Rights in Ancient and Medieval Times
13:24 Magna Carta, the Crown, and Pre-Existing Rights
14:53 Enlightenment Thinkers and the Spread of Natural Rights
15:54 Property, Assembly, and Libertarian Principles
17:12 Natural Rights Aren't Handed Out—They're Inherent
18:03 Positive vs. Negative Rights
19:31 Negative Rights: The Libertarian Standard
21:10 Trade-offs and the Limits of Government Intervention
22:28 Why Libertarians Prioritize Natural & Negative Rights
25:36 Limiting Power: Sphere Sovereignty and Social Checks
27:02 Government, Morality, and Personal Autonomy
28:34 Government Dependency vs. Private Solutions
29:52 Why Rights Matter in a Free Society
31:02 Rights as Fundamentals of U.S. Society
32:22 Learning from History: Rights, Stories, and Systems
32:56 Modern Challenges and Demanding Your Rights
