Human Rights

Human Rights

Human rights are unobservable abstractions of pure thought. We should explore a rational basis for human rights. All actual rights are social rights. Throughout history, different countries, societies and cultures have defined or clarified ‘human rights’ to suit their own contexts. In some communities, ‘human rights’ include a specific set of laws and legislation. In others, ‘human rights’ are simply guidelines that reflect the morals and expectations of individuals within that community. Human rights are almost a form of religion in today's world.

According to the German philosopher Gottilieb Fichte, “Any actual right is a socially recognized claim. Social rights are enforced by public opinion within a community”.

An  argument for  human rights  follows from  Rawls’ (American philosopher) concept of fairness. It is the result of “ dropping a veil ignorance”.

Human right is not particular interest, it’s a general interest which stands for fair and rational judge.

American philosopher Alan Gewirth mentioned human right as a “goal-directed rational agent”, which means right to certain freedoms, goods, and services which any goal directed rational agent must wish to claim. As a rational agent one may claim to recognition of his freedoms by others and one must admit that other rational agent must also make such claim.  This knowledge cuases a kind of universal  “social contract” to arise. Which creates social rights and perhaps legal rights, but it does not show that they are moral rights.

Human rights become a way of maximizing the freedom of all to do what they individually wish as justified by the self interest of each rational agent.

According to Aristotle reason was our highest interest which defined animal nature as specially human. But philosopher Gewirth treats reason as means and according to Gewirth, human rights come into existence which enable everybody to intelligently pursue as wide range of goals is possible. He showed that, human rights can be justified what goals we pursue and how certain universal rights come to be recognized.

A contemporary Belgian philosopher Chaim Perelman offers possible solution for human rights. He privileges the rational interest in truth. We must recognize that it is not idealistic to say that truth could become a universal truth. Only human being have human rights. Every human being is a rational being potentially committed to the search for truth. Each of us has potential to enter into dialogue with the universal audience of all human beings. It is the responsibility of educational institution.