The challenge of human rights: origin, development, and significance

Abstract

Acknowledgments. Introduction. 1. Human Rights in History. Ancient Classical World. World of the Bible. Medieval World. Renaissance and Reformation Thought. Hobbes and Rousseau. Revolution in England. American Independence. French Declaration of the Rights of Man. English Resistance to Human Rights. German Developments: Kant and Marx. 2. Modern Human Rights Movement. Charter of the United Nations Organization. Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Continental Developments. 1993 Vienna World Conference on Human Rights. Wider Human Rights Developments. British Developments. Conclusion. 3. Clarifying Human Rights. Some Useful Distinctions. Rights and Duties. Proliferation of Rights. Individuals-in-Society. Selfishness and Social Divisiveness. Ethical Imperialism?. A Challenge to All Cultures. Strengths of Human Rights. 4. Establishing Human Rights. A Matter of Belief. An Essential Requirement. Nature of Persons. Intuitionist Approaches. Human Dignity. The Wonder of Our Being. Major Opponents. Conclusion. 5. Globalizing of Human Rights. Global Expansion. Seeking a Global Ethic. Cultural Relativism. Global Human Rights. Towards Cosmopolitanism. Inadequacies of States. Principled Cosmopolitanism. Human Solidarity. Bibliography. Index