FREE IGNOU MPS-01 SOLVED ASSIGNMENT 2023-24

6. (a) Needs, Rights, and Deserts:

Needs, rights, and deserts are three fundamental concepts that play a significant role in ethical and social discussions regarding the distribution of resources, responsibilities, and opportunities within a society.

Needs: Needs refer to the basic requirements that individuals require to lead a dignified and fulfilling life. These needs encompass essentials such as food, shelter, clothing, healthcare, and education. Addressing needs is often seen as a moral imperative to ensure social justice and minimize human suffering. Ethical theories like utilitarianism emphasize meeting the greatest needs for the greatest number of people.

Rights: Rights are entitlements that individuals possess by virtue of being human, which society is obligated to respect and protect. These include civil rights (such as freedom of speech and religion), political rights (such as the right to vote), and socioeconomic rights (such as the right to education and healthcare). The concept of rights is central to liberal theories of justice, where individuals have a claim against others or the state to ensure their rights are upheld.

Deserts: Deserts refer to what individuals deserve based on their actions, efforts, or contributions. This concept is often linked to notions of meritocracy, where rewards are distributed according to one’s achievements or contributions. Deserts-based distribution aims to incentivize hard work and innovation while promoting fairness.