# What Are Rights? **URL:** **By** Jason Brennan **Published:** October 26, 2010 --- Jason Brennan discusses what rights are and contrasts rights-based thinking about ethics with utilitarian thinking. Brennan discusses what rights are and contrasts rights-based thinking about ethics with utilitarian thinking. ### **Further Reading** Ursula K. Le Guin, [_The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas_](http://www.amazon.com/Ones-Who-Walk-Away-Omelas/dp/0886825016/) Robert Nozick, [_Anarchy, State, and Utopia_](http://www.amazon.com/Anarchy-State-Utopia-Robert-Nozick/dp/0465051006/) Ronald Dworkin, [_Taking Rights Seriously_](http://www.amazon.com/Taking-Rights-Seriously-Ronald-Dworkin/dp/0674867114/) Wesley Newcomb Hohfeld, [_Fundamental Legal Conceptions_](http://www.amazon.com/Fundamental-Conceptions-Wesley-Newcomb-Hohfeld/dp/B000K8CIQ6/) John Stuart Mill, [_On Liberty_](http://www.amazon.com/Liberty-Dover-Thrift-Editions/dp/0486421309/)