The Notion of Human Rights

1083 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Short essay on the topic human rights

Human rights are established on the standard of respect for the individual. They are described as the essential liberties which every human holds for the fact that they are human. The notion of human rights developed through changes in thoughts and ideas which evolved during the era of Enlightenment, Protestant Reformation, and the Renaissance (“Human Rights”). The notion of human rights gained traction throughout the world resulting in the adoption of new principles in the 20th century (“Human Rights”). The first principle was emphasized on the individual, securing the rights of life, freedom, and protection (“Human Rights”). These rights impacted individuals as they could live without fear knowing that they are safe (“Human Rights”). The second principle impacted groups and prevented these groups from the abuse of others (“Human Rights”). As the notion of human rights spread, new laws and regulations were created to enforce these principles during the 20th century (“Human Rights”).
The 18th century Enlightenment influenced change in the notion of human rights through the rising belief of reason which allowed conflicts between humans to be resolved (“Human Rights”). John Locke, an English philosopher, was an essential advocate of that belief and demonstrated the notion of rights which was obligated to every person (“Human Rights”). He believed in many human rights including those of life, liberty, and property (“Human Rights”). Furthermore, he stated that people should follow society's laws while upholding their individual rights (“Human Rights”). Lastly, Locke believed that if society fails to protect the person's rights, the people are able to establish a revolution that will protect those rights (“Human Rights”).
The successf...

... middle of paper ...

...principle was stressed on the individual, establishing the rights of life, autonomy, and protection (“Human Rights”). These constitutional rights impacted individuals as they could live without fear knowing that they are secure (“Human Rights”). The next principle impacted groups and prevented these groups from the cruelty of others (“Human Rights”). The notion of human rights will require profound involvement of the United Nations as the 21st century approaches. Currently there are many dictators who are not following the U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They have denied people of their lives, their liberty, and their capability to upkeep themselves. The United Nations will have to update their system of enforcement to ensure that human rights are met.

Works Cited

"Human Rights." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2014. Web. 18 Mar.
2014.

Show More
Related

  • Enlightenment DBQ

    1096 Words  | 3 Pages

    John Locke strongly believed in more rights for the people and was against oppression. In his book, Second Treatise on Civil Government, Locke stated, “(W)e must consider, what state all men are naturally in, and that is, a state of perfect freedom to order their actions, and dispose [manage] of their possessions. . .” (Document A). Locke means every man is naturally equal, no one was created better and he has certain guaranteed rights. This helps society because it would deny a monarch to strip a person of their guaranteed rights and it would make the monarch less powerful and his/her power would be given to the people.

    Read More

  • Four Human Rights Myths Summary

    492 Words  | 1 Pages

    In “Four Human Rights Myths” Susan Marks discusses several conceptions (or misconceptions according to her) about human rights. She begins her paper with a case study of the 2011 London riots and how distinctively different is their coverage by the British prime minister and two scholars.

    Read More

  • John Locke and the Enlightenment

    575 Words  | 2 Pages

    This paper is about John Locke who was a philosopher in the 17-century. He was an Englishmen and his ideas formed the basic concept for the government and laws, which later allowed colonist to justify revolution. I agree with what Locke is saying because everybody should be able to have their own freedom and still respect the freedom of other people. John said, “Individuals have rights, and their duties are defined in terms of protecting their own rights and respecting those of others”. This paper will present to you information about his enlightenment, personal information, and how we as people feel about his decisions.

    Read More

  • The Enlightenment and the Declaration of Independence

    415 Words  | 1 Pages

    John Locke was an English philosopher who lived during 1632-1704. In political theory he was equally influential. Contradicting Hobbes, Locke maintained that the original state of nature was happy and characterized by reason and tolerance; all human beings were equal and free to pursue "life, health, liberty, and possessions." The state formed by the social contract was guided by the natural law, which guaranteed those inalienable rights. He set down the policy of checks and balances later followed in the U.S. Constitution; formulated the doctrine that revolution in some circumstances is not only a right but an obligation; and argued for broad religious freedom.

    Read More

  • No Such Thing as a Humanitarian Intervention

    1940 Words  | 4 Pages

    The issue of human rights has arisen only in the post-cold war whereby it was addressed by an international institution that is the United Nation. In the United Nation’s preamble stated that human rights are given to all humans and that there is equality for everyone. There will not be any sovereign states to diminish its people from taking these rights. The globalization of capitalism after the Cold War makes the issue of human rights seems admirable as there were sufferings in other parts of the world. This is because it is perceived that the western states are the champion of democracy which therefore provides a perfect body to carry out human rights activities. Such human sufferings occur in a sovereign state humanitarian intervention led by the international institution will be carried out to end the menace.

    Read More

  • Reproductive Rights: Gendered Perspectives

    1261 Words  | 3 Pages

    Since the Renaissance of the 15th century, societal views have evolved drastically. One of the largest changes has been the realization of individualism, along with the recognition of inalienable human rights.(UDHR, A.1) This means that all humans are equal, free, and capable of thought; as such, the rights of one individual cannot infringe on another’s at risk of de-humanizing the infringed upon. The fact that humans have a set of natural rights is not contested in society today; the idea of human rights is a societal construction based on normative ethical codes. Human rights are defined from the hegemonic standpoint, using normative ethical values and their application to the interactions of individuals with each other and state bodies. Human rights laws are legislature put in place by the governing body to regulate these interactions.

    Read More

  • John Locke’s Two Treatises of Government and Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s Social Contract

    1125 Words  | 3 Pages

    What John Locke was concerned about was the lack of limitations on the sovereign authority. During Locke’s time the world was surrounded by the monarch’s constitutional violations of liberty toward the end of the seventeenth century. He believed that people in their natural state enjoy certain natural, inalienable rights, particularly those to life, liberty and property. Locke described a kind of social contract whereby any number of people, who are able to abide by the majority rule, unanimously unite to affect their common purposes. The...

    Read More

  • How Did John Locke's Influence On The American Revolution

    774 Words  | 2 Pages

    The ideas of human rights and liberties have definitely evolved between the year 1500 and present day. The entire world has been affected by the progression and change that has happened throughout the years. Historical prompts like The English Bill of rights, The National Assembly, Declaration of the Rights of Man, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and other primary source documents created the lives we have today. The ideas affected both the political landscape and the individual lives of ordinary people by changing the world’s view on equality and human beings divine right to freedom.

    Read More

  • Kant vs. Mill: Human Rights and Utilitarianism

    1725 Words  | 4 Pages

    One of the main reasons why human rights have been put in place is to protect the public life and public space of every individual being. One fundamental characteristic of human rights is that they are equal rights; they are aimed at providing protection to every person in an equal way. These rights have been entrenched through laws that are passed by states and international conventions. Human rights laws have evolved over time, and have been shaped by several factors, including philosophical theories in the past. This paper looks at the theories of two philosophers, Emmanuel Kant and John Stuart Mills, and how their teachings can be used to explain the sources of human rights. Kant’s moral philosophy is very direct in its justification of human rights, especially the ideals of moral autonomy and equality as applied to rational human beings. John Stuart Mills’ theory of utilitarianism also forms a solid basis for human rights, especially his belief that utility is the supreme criterion for judging morality, with justice being subordinate to it. The paper looks at how the two philosophers qualify their teachings as the origins of human rights, and comes to the conclusion that the moral philosophy of Kant is better than that of Mills.

    Read More

  • John Locke and Karl Marx on Social Justice

    803 Words  | 2 Pages

    John Locke's views on social justice and a just state began with his belief that all humans are governed by what he calls "natural laws" and are protected by their "inalienable personal rights." Our inalienable rights are life, liberty, health, and property. They are considered inalienable rights because they are God-given, and ideally, no other human could ever have the right to remove or threaten the existence of them.

    Read More

  • Comparing Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, And Karl Marx

    596 Words  | 2 Pages

    He said that people were full of moral and reason and we were born with these special rights called “natural rights.” Natural rights are rights that belonged to all humans from birth that include the right to life, liberty, and property. Locke supported his views with his work, Two Treatises of Government. In this work, he argued that governments were formed to protect the natural rights of humans. He believed that the best government was the kind that was accepted by all the citizens and did not hold all the power.

    Read More

  • Human Rights in a Confucian Society

    1277 Words  | 3 Pages

    Human rights are regarded as the keystone of modernity. There are various international bills to entrench the modern ideas of human rights, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Human beings are entitled to civil and political rights against violation by the state, as long as the social, economic and cultural rights.

    Read More

  • The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

    1830 Words  | 4 Pages

    Debate on whether human rights are universal or not has been going on since adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights more than six decades ago and is set to go on for as long as different schools of thought on the matter exist.

    Read More

  • Universal Declaration of Human Rights

    1354 Words  | 3 Pages

    On December 10th in 1948, the general assembly adopted a Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This declaration, although not legally binding, created “a common standard of achievement of all people and all nations…to promote respect for those rights and freedoms” (Goodhart, 379). However, many cultures assert that the human rights policies outlined in the declaration undermine cultural beliefs and practices. This assertion makes the search for universal human rights very difficult to achieve. I would like to focus on articles 3, 14 and 25 to address how these articles could be modified to incorporate cultural differences, without completely undermining the search for human rights practices.

    Read More

  • Are Human Rights Universal?

    1599 Words  | 4 Pages

    A general definition of human rights are that they are rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled to, simply because there human. It is the idea that ‘all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.’ The thought that human rights are universal emerges from the philosophical view that human rights are linked to the conservation of human dignity- that respect for individual dignity is needed regardless of the circumstance, leading to the notion that human rights are universal. The earliest form of human rights can be traced back to European history- the French Declaration on the Rights of Man and of Citizen which says that men are born free and equal in rights.

    Read More

More about The Notion of Human Rights

Open Document