Lynn Hunt: Inventing Human Rights

Lynn Hunt, UCLA Professor of Modern European History, discusses the genesis of human rights, a concept that only came to the forefront during the eighteenth century. When the American Declaration of Independence declared all men are created equal and the French proclaimed the Declaration of the Rights of Man during their revolution, they were bringing a new guarantee into the world. But why then? How did such a revelation come to pass? Series: "Walter H. Capps Center Series" [3/2008] [Humanities] [Show ID: 14182]

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Human
• rights
• history
• sociology

[kittycatcarley]

@mcabe0131 I agree!! Human rights doesn't mean you have the right to have a credit card or whatever, it's just the right to be human. To be treated like a human. Becasue we all are human, no one is above or below anyone else in that fact.

:D

[mcabe0131]

@kittycatcarley Sorry about the long reply. I think we totally agree on the subject. I just think that HR organisations and NGOs need to think outside the box when attempting to implement essential HR. Rights need to be taught in a local cultural context, otherwise HR law just won't be adhered.

[mcabe0131]

@kittycatcarley ok so I actually completely agree with you. The example of female genital mutilation is a good one, that girl has the right to refuse (and many African countries have actually banned the tradition), however she doesn't! Especially in regard to FGM there is a lot of social and cultural pressure to undergo the procedure. My point is simply that giving and teaching human rights is all well and good, but seldom necessarily helps implement them where they are needed.

[kittycatcarley]

@mcabe0131 I understand what you are saying. But the idea is wrong. If a girl in Somalia does not want her clitoris cut off, she has the human right to refuse it. If a Muslim man does not want his hand cut off for stealing, he has the human right to refuse. Those human rights (to object to torture, for example) CAN be violated (by culture, religion, politics), but NOT taken away. Human rights are simply the rights that all humans posses to be treated as humans.

[mcabe0131]

@kittycatcarley what is meant is that human rights are conceived by the west/UN. Since morals and ethics (ideas of right and wrong) differ from culture to culture, there cannot exist universal human rights. stating that all human beings are equal in rights does not actually make them equal.

[Mike10four]

@niinja2 For the proof see: youtube.com/watch?v=tdNYVZQYJq­I

[niinja2]

@Mike10four

"These Rights were here before humans"

you cant have human rights before humans

[Mike10four]

Morality and civil law, aka Natural Law, is the thread that runs through the tapestry of civil society; on the other hand, the Laws of Nature trumps the powers of mortals in government. All life is dependent on the Laws of Nature which includes Jefferson’s Rights. Many confuse these Rights are part of Natural Law, giving the illusion these Rights are man made and therefore, can be manipulated. These Rights were here before humans. See my channel thesis for elaboration.

[neverendingdreams007]

#If a man (Christian) beats his male or female SLAVE with a rod & the slave dies as a direct result,he must be punished,but he is not to be punished if the slave gets up after a day or two,SINCE THE SLAVE IS HIS (A CHRISTIAN`S) PROPERTY. (Exodus 21 : 20)

#Bid slaves to be submissive to their masters & to give satisfaction in every respect; they are not to be refractory ; nor to pilfer,but to show entire & true fidelity. (Titus 2: 9)

[neverendingdreams007]

Your male & female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves.You may also buy some of the temporary residents living among you & members of their clans born in your country ,& they will become your property .You can will them to your Children as inherited property & can make them slaves for life. (Leviticus 25 :44-46)( To the Biblical God Humaen kind is not equal ,Slavoury in Christianity remind us the cruel dark history of African`s slavoury history)