Not only does man require others in order to satisfy his basic physical needs, but there is radical generosity to human nature which drives man to share his knowledge and love with others. It is precisely in reaching out to others that he develops his own possibilities. The common conditions of social life, which guarantee and promote the recognition and fulfilment of man's individual and social rights are referred to as the common good. When the common good is in place, then those great human exchanges of knowledge and love can take place in a fruitful way. The principles of social justice are the principles that support the common good, and thereby serve human rights.
Human rights have a spiritual character .
Unless we have a clear criterion for distinguishing human rights, we will find, particularly in a permissive society, that many things get referred to as natural rights which are not such at all, and that some things which really are human rights get overlooked. Society must recognize as genuine rights whatever human beings need to fulfill their human nature and to pursue their human goal, which is, ultimately, to know and love God. When we describe it in this way, it is clear that there is a great difference between a human right and a mere individual advantage - the sort of thing that can be defended on the grounds that someone would like to have it. We can speak, then, of a right to pursue the truth, and of a right to pursue the truth, and of a right to be correctly informed about public events. We can also argue that everyone has the right to share of earthly goods sufficient for oneself and one's family.