There’s an ongoing debate about rights, whether we have “natural rights,” or if rights pre-exist, or if they are independent of morality.
"Rights" have no meaning for a person living alone on a deserted island. As soon as two (or more) people attempt to live together, it seems to me they need to agree how they will deal with one another. If they don't agree that one person may not take another's life, or his means of maintaining his life, then life will indeed be short and brutish for all but the strongest and/or smartest.
