Open AccessHuman Rights. The question of origins
Author(s) -
Mogens Chrom Jacobsen
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
nordicum-mediterraneum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1670-6242
DOI - 10.33112/nm.11.3.7
Subject(s) - humanity , autonomy , utopia , morality , perfection , human rights , environmental ethics , order (exchange) , sociology , epistemology , moral order , law , political science , law and economics , philosophy , social science , finance , economics
The article outlines two traditions of philosophical thought proposing each their understanding of human rights. The significance of these two traditions goes beyond the question of rights and touches on the role of morality in human life. One tradition considers that humans have limited social obligations towards each other in order to ensure peaceful co-existence, while the other tradition considers moral perfection an essential aim of social life, thus enabling man to realize its humanity. This outline is attended by a critique of Samuel Moyn’s book The Last Utopia. Finally, the article proposes a third conception based on autonomy.