Natural Human Rights
A Theory
Published on 11. August 2014
Book
Hardback
312 pages
978-1-107-02985-9 (ISBN)
Description
This timely book by internationally regarded scholar of ethics and social/political philosophy, Michael Boylan, focuses on the history, application and significance of human rights in the West and China. Boylan engages the key current philosophical debates prevalent in human rights discourse today and draws them together to argue for the existence of natural, universal human rights. Arguing against the grain of mainstream philosophical beliefs, Boylan asserts that there is continuity between human rights and natural law and that human beings require basic, essential goods for minimum action. These include food, clean water and sanitation, clothing, shelter and protection from bodily harm, including basic healthcare. The achievement of this goal, Boylan demonstrates, will require significant resource allocation and creative methods of implementation involving public and private institutions. Combining technical argument with four fictional narratives about human rights, the book invites readers to engage with the most important aspects of the discipline.
Reviews / Votes
'In this important book Boylan the philosopher and Boylan the novelist join forces. By combining fine stories; conceptual, historical, and literary analysis; an extended systematic argument; and pertinent case studies, Boylan successfully develops his theory of universal human rights. A demonstration of admirable scholarship and a superb addition to philosophy!' Klaus Steigleder, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany 'In this innovative and accessible work on human rights Michael Boylan has managed to successfully integrate case studies, history of ideas, and general policy prescription with original philosophical analysis. The result is a valuable teaching and learning tool.' Seumas Miller, Charles Sturt University and Delft University of Technology 'Michael Boylan's Natural Human Rights is to be considered both as an introduction to the history of our thinking about human rights, as well as a proper defense and a contemporary justification. Discussing major issues of today's society, Boylan is offering his own view and is prepared to engage in a journey with the classics and the moderns.' Bart Raymaekers, Institute of Philosophy, Leuven 'A comprehensive, profound, carefully crafted study of the theory of natural human rights. Scholarship at its best.' Amitai Etzioni, George Washington University, and author of The New Golden RuleMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
College/higher education
Illustrations
2 Tables, unspecified
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
672 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-107-02985-9 (9781107029859)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
08/2014
Cambridge University Press
€33.00
Shipment within 15-20 days
E-Book
08/2014
Cambridge University Press
€16.99
Available for download
E-Book
08/2014
1st Edition
Cambridge University Press
€20.49
Available for download
Person
Michael Boylan is Professor of Philosophy and Chair of the Philosophy Department at Marymount University. He is author of 26 books and more than 100 articles. His monograph A Just Society (2004) was recently the subject of an edited volume featuring fourteen authors from eight countries, entitled Morality and Justice: Reading Boylan's 'A Just Society'. He has served on professional and governmental policy committees and was a Fellow at the Center for American Progress and a program presenter at the Brookings Institution. He is an international figure who has been an invited speaker at a number of prominent universities outside the United States, including Oxford, Cambridge, Manchester, University College London, Trinity College (Dublin), University College (Dublin), The Sorbonne, The Katholic University of Leuven, University of Oslo, University of Copenhagen, Cologne University, Bochum University, Twente and Delft Universities, Santiago University (Chile), University of Sydney, University of Melbourne, Australian National University and Charles Sturt University (Waga Waga, Australia). He is also a published novelist and poet.
Content
Part I. Conceptualizing Human Rights: 1. How do we talk about human rights?; 2. A short history of human rights in the West; 3. Human rights in China; Part II. Justifications for Human Rights: 4. Legal justifications; 5. Interest justifications; 6. Agency justifications; 7. Ontology, justice, and human rights; Part III. Applications of Human Rights: 8. War rape; 9. Political speech; 10. LGBT rights.