The idea of human rights

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Title:

The idea of human rights

Author:

Beitz, Charles R.

ISBN:

9780199572458

Personal Author:

Beitz, Charles R.

Publication Information:

Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 2009.

Physical Description:

xiii, 235 p. ; 25 cm.

Contents:

Ch. 1. Introduction -- 1. Why there is a problem -- 2. Forms of skepticism -- 3. Approach -- Ch. 2. The practice -- 4. Origins -- 5. Doctrine -- 6. Implementation -- 7. An emergent practice -- 8. Problems -- Ch. 3. Naturalistic theories -- 9. Naturalism about human rights -- 10. Persons "as such" (1) : the demand side -- 11. Persons "as such" (2) : the supply side -- Ch. 4. Agreement theories -- 12. "Common core" and "overlapping consensus" -- 13. The appeal of agreement conceptions -- 14. Progressive convergence -- Ch. 5. A fresh start -- 15. Human rights in The Law of Peoples -- 16. The idea of a practical conception -- 17. A two-level model -- 18. "Manifesto rights" -- 19. The role of states -- Ch. 6. Normativity -- 20. What human rights are for -- 21. A schema -- 22. Minimalism and social justice -- 23. Toleration (1) : the domestic analogy -- 24. Toleration (2) : the autonomy of peoples -- Ch. 7. International concern -- 25. Anti-poverty rights -- 26. Political rights -- 27. Human rights of women -- Ch. 8. Conclusion -- 28. Residues of skepticism -- 29. Pathologies -- 30. Human rights and global normative order.

Abstract:

Human rights have become one of the most important moral concepts in global political life over the last 60 years. Charles Beitz, one of the world's leading philosophers, offers a compelling new examination of the idea of a human right.-- Source other than Library of Congress.

Subject Term:

Human rights -- Political aspects.

Human rights.

Human rights -- International cooperation.

Human rights -- Philosophy.

Normativity (Ethics)

Human rights -- Moral and ethical aspects.

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Library	Material Type	Item Barcode	Shelf Number	Copy	Status
Searching... 1:IIEMSA	1:GEN-BOOK	33168025533320	343.1240999 B422.I 2009	1	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

The international doctrine of human rights is one of the most ambitious parts of the settlement of World War II. Since then, the language of human rights has become the common language of social criticism in global political life. This book is a theoretical examination of the central idea of that language, the idea of a human right. In contrast to more conventional philosophical studies, the author takes a practical approach, looking at the history and political practice of human rights for guidance in understanding the central idea. The author presents a model of human rights as matters of international concern whose violation by governments can justify international protective and restorative action ranging from intervention to assistance. He proposes a schema for justifying human rights and applies it to several controversial cases-rights against poverty, rights to democracy, and the human rights of women. Throughout, the book attends to some main reasons why people are sceptical about human rights, including the fear that human rights will be used by strong powers to advance their national interests. The book concludes by observing that contemporary human rights practice is vulnerable to several pathologies and argues the need for international collaboration to avoid them.