Theories of human rights are important, as they can be a means to challenging entrenched and oppressive power. These key essays take a philosophical approach to human rights, questioning dominant theories and offering different perspectives on their application.
The second treatise of civil government, chapters 2 and 5, by J. Locke.--Anarchical fallacies, by J. Bentham.--Natural rights, by M. MacDonald.--Are there any natural rights? By H.L.A. Hart.--Justice and equality, by G. Vlastos.--Rights, human rights, and racial discrimination, by R. Wasserstrom.--Persons and punishment, by H. Morris.--The Virginia declaration of rights, June 12, 1776.--Extract from the Declaration of independence of the United States of America, July 4, 1776.--Declaration of the rights of man and of citizens (1789)--Universal declaration of human rights.--Bibliography (p. 150-152).
Forsythe (political science, U. of Nebraska) explores the origin and meaning of the concept of human rights and examines international action on behalf of human rights since 1945 to show how what was once considered the province of states has now become an integral part of international relations. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
