Why Human Rights?: A Philosophical Guide

A Philosophical Guide explores the three fundamental philosophical claims underlying the moral idea of human rights, including universal justice, human equality, and individual rights, and provides a broad appreciation of moral and political philosophy.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 226 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Human Rights: A Philosophical Guide delves into the three fundamental philosophical claims that underpin the moral concept of human rights: universal justice, human equality, and individual rights. These claims are essential to various human rights issues, such as gender discrimination, caning punishments, and child marriages in traditional societies, which assume that justice should be global rather than local. The book also explores hierarchical moral status claims like caste and their relevance to current debates on abortion, assisted suicide, and animal rights. Additionally, it addresses the debate between utilitarians and communitarians, which emerged in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks and centered around the use of torture-enhanced interrogation by the American government. By presenting a concise and jargon-free exploration of these philosophical foundations, the book offers a valuable resource for understanding the human rights idea and its challenges in the face of illiberalism.

Weight: 364g
Dimension: 228 x 152 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367723071