Final answer:
The concept that only those who can assert or defend claims have rights is False in traditional natural rights ethics, as these rights are considered inherent to all humans, based on their nature, and not dependent on their ability to articulate or defend them.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement "Traditional natural rights ethics supports a model of rights based on self-assertion. In this model, the only beings who have rights are those who can make and defend moral claims" is False. Traditional natural rights philosophy posits that all individuals inherently possess rights, such as the right to life, liberty, and property, by virtue of their human nature, not just those who can actively assert or defend these claims.
Concepts like those presented by John Locke and the philosophy of the Enlightenment era significantly influenced the development of natural rights theory, emphasizing that such rights are inherent and inalienable. These natural rights are thought to be universal and not contingent upon the individual's ability to claim or defend them.
Furthermore, when addressing natural rights, the premise is that people have fundamental rights that cannot be revoked by human-made laws or political leaders. This is represented by answer choice 'c' of the provided information, indicating that natural rights are enduring and independent of any societal or governmental systems. Some philosophers, such as John Locke, contend that these rights are rooted in mutual security and the non-aggression principle, whereas critiques by philosophers like Jeremy Bentham suggest rights are granted by the state and not inherent in nature.