Human rights, personhood, dignity, and African communalism

Abstract

I articulate and defend a plausible conception of substantive human rights that is grounded in an African communal conception of dignity and personhood that emphasizes individual responsibilities. I contrast this conception with the dominant Western liberal view of moral dignity as a basis for human rights, which involves an individualistic self-regarding entitlement that inheres in human nature. The Western overemphasis on rights as entitlements, without a corresponding emphasis on duty, is not an adequate way of maintaining rights, well-being, and dignity for all, especially the vulnerable. A plausible African view that emphasizes the responsibilities to nurture innate capacities, and respect and protect individual rights and dignity, provides a better approach. I suggest that a Universal Declaration of Responsibility should occur concurrently with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.