... arises from the quest of humans to be free and independent. None of us want to be the servant of others ... most of us we want to be free ... and relatively equal (these we call the self-reliant working middle class). From that innate desire to be free and independent arises the sense of "rights" ... "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" (although many mistakenly pursue misery :( ).

Then, there are the extremes ... those who are not content to be equal, but who must conquer and feed off others in order to be "greater than" (these we call the rich) ... and those who submit to domination, perhaps in return for some meager but reliable and protected subsistence (these we call the poor).

However, because we have a quest to be free, independent, equal, etc., presupposes "free and independent of what"? ... and "equal to or greater than what"? ... well, the other "what" is other humans. Clearly, this pretty much places the notion of "rights" in the sociological arena, because there are no absolute rights independent of society, and the rights or one are relative to and dependent on the rights of others.

That's my quick take. Would like to think more about it.

Here's the really millisecond view in the style of George Carlin: I live alone in the world, plenty of food, water, etc., I have no concept of rights ... don't need any rights ... the world is mine. Now, another asshole comes along and starts taking my stuff. Now, both he and I develop the same notion of rights simultaneously: "Dammit, I have just as much "right" to all this shit as he does!". We may have to fight it out for a while until we both realize that there is more shit than either one of us can ever use or enjoy ... this becomes the dawn of "civilization" ... literally. There ... that's how it all came about. :)