Central Concepts: Needs, Capabilities, Interests, and Rights

When it comes to the question of which rights beings ought to have, we must examine their needs, abilities and interests. A right not to be prevented from satisfying a need is extremely important if the need is strong and its frustration is consequently damaging/painful/unpleasant/torturous. A right to freedom, for example, is important where the need for freedom is urgent (or pressing). A right to freedom of religion is only meaningful where there is also a need for the free practice of religion. For example, according to our current knowledge, denying an earthworm the right to free exercise of religion is unlikely to cause them any harm. For humans, who are potentially religious animals, such a right is nevertheless significant.