Political Science 3388E Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Nuremberg Trials, Negative And Positive Rights

• School: Western University
• Department: Political Science
• Course: Political Science 3388E
• Professor: Peter Ferguson

Document Summary

Both readings try to find a philosophical basis for human rights. Conclude it is impossible to define it through philosophy. Emphasizes the importance of god in natural law - declaration of independence. Modepoint of readings: we are not at a point where we define what human rights are - not given a list. Their relationship w god is more of a duty. Its hard to define rights through religion - every religion is different -> why un left religion out of unhrc - universal. Human rights are not a result of culture - result of social structure. There"s an argument - trying to impose western view on third world. Ex: fixing economy - send imf and they have a structure on what to do - reduce spending, increase taxes. Ex: democracy - different views on what is democracy. Same goes for human rights - different countries/religions have different ideas of human rights.