What does it mean to have rights?

Answer 1

It can mean the right of freedom of speech in the country you are in. The right to bare arms. The right to walk on the same side of the street as any person no matter what your race. The right to express your views in the country you live in. The right to protect yourself or your family in any way possible. It can go on and on as long as it's legal and doesn't hurt anyone else.

Answer 2

Given advantages or a just claim or entitlement.

In a Political Science or Philosophical context, a "Right" is an intrinsic attribute of a person or culture. That is, something that is inherent to a person, and cannot be taken away from them, even by their own permission (and, certainly, not without their permission). That is, a Right is something that all people are permitted to do.

Naturally, as this is philosophy, "Rights" are not concrete items, but ideas. While we read about "Inalienable" or "Natural" Rights, as if they were a part of being human as breathing, the reality is that they are societal convention - that is, a Right is one of the fundamental building blocks of a society or culture, one which all members of that society agree upon as fundamental to the culture.

This, of course, does not mean that such "Rights" cannot change over time, as the society evolves. Such is the nature of Philosophy - it is merely a reflection of the broadly-accepted viewpoint of a given group of people at a point in time. Rights are not set in stone, nor should they be.

We (as society) agree on a common selection of defined Rights because they advance two major concepts in the society: they form a basic, common ground for all members to use in their interaction with others, and they form the framework for the goals and ideals of the society, and how the society both sees itself, and expects its members to act.

Answer 3

To have rights means that the government guarantees you certain privileges unconditionally. Examples can be the right to education, right to privacy, and right to have an attorney when accused.