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How would you argue for the universal validity of the concept of Human Rights?

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Essay 1 topics Write about 1500 words on any ONE of the following topics 1.What distinction would you draw between ‘patriotism' and ‘nationalism'? Which of these, if any, is ethically admirable? 2.What do you understand by “political patriotism”? Is it an ethically valuable stance? 3.In what way was the Universal Declaration of Human Rights made legitimate as having global relevance? Do think that the charge that it is a “Western” imposition can be sustained? 4.How would you argue for the universal validity of the concept of Human Rights? 5.How is Martha Nussbaum's notion of “capabilities” relevant to the concept of basic human rights? 6.State and discuss Peter Singer's argument that we all have an obligation to help the global poor. 7.How is the ethic of caring relevant to the question of what we in the affluent West should do for the global poor? How does this ethic differ from a justice perspective? 8.In February, 2011, there were devastating floods in Australia (Queensland and Victoria) and in Pakistan. The Australian government – and Australian individuals acting through non-government organisations such as the Red Cross – did not have enough resources to assist everyone affected by the floods. Should they give priority to Australian victims or to Pakistanis? What would be the “Liberal Nationalist” position on this and are its arguments sound? 9.Does John Rawls's account of justice at the national level apply to global society? (This topic might be chosen by those who studied Rawls in the Political Philosophy unit.) 10.State and discuss Thomas Pogge's arguments for the relevance of the concept of justice to global society. 11.Which moral theory does Onora O'Neill think is best for understanding our obligation to help alleviate world poverty? NO WIKIPEDIA !! Oxford referencing system ! Coverpage , Titlepage,Bibliography.... Compolsory Readings are : STAN VAN HOOFT Cosmopolitanism:Philosophy for Global Ethics, Durham: Acumen 2009 Marking criteriaKnowledge of the course material, the ability to display an understanding of the implications of those ideas, and to discuss them critically. - Acquisition of, and ability to work with, a systematic body of knowledge, based on the highest standards of scholarship and research - Understanding of why the material covered in the unit is important in the world today. - Understanding of the professional, social, economic and cultural contexts of the discipline area - Ability to see the links with sustainable development - Understanding of the principles and applications of sustainable development - Acquisition of, and ability to work with, a systematic body of knowledge, based on the highest standards of scholarship and research - Understanding of the professional social, economic and cultural contexts of the discipline area - Understanding of the principles and applications of sustainable development What the Assessor will be looking for when marking this assignment Skills - Research skills - Good grammar and spelling - Well structured essays submitted on time - Use of D2L - Critical analysis, problem-solving, and creative thinking displayed in the essays and presentations - Identifying, gathering, retrieving and working with textual, graphic and numerical information - Communication, orally and in written form, across a range of contexts - Personal organisation and management - Harnessing information and communication technology - Critical analysis, problem-solving, and creative thinking What the Assessor will be looking for when marking this assignment: Attitudes - Use of original sources as well as materials provided - Commitment to independent and lifelong learning - Ethical sensitivity - Awareness of ethics, social responsibility and cultural diversity - Understanding of the study material - Appreciation of international perspectives in a global environment - Commitment to independent and lifelong learning - Awareness of ethics, social responsibility and cultural diversity - Appreciation of international perspectives in a global environment The following assessment criteria have been included to illustrate what examiners look for when assessing Other material attched on order
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How would you argue for the universal validity of the concept of Human Rights?
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How would you argue for the universal validity of the concept of Human Rights
The enactment of Human rights national and international laws in the world set in after the establishment of Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.These statutes however, have been under criticism for their call for universal application. Human rights are inherent and absolute rights, which a person is entitled to by virtue of being human. For this reason, they are of universal application since; they are same for everyone in the whole world and form the global moral language. They are entrenched in the natural laws, legal right documentaries of national, and international statutes, laws, international as well as local organizations, in both state and non state actors`` strategies and actions. There is a continued debate over several aspects of human rights including; their nature, content and meaning.[Thomas, F.M. "Are Human Rights Universal?" Foreign Affairs 80, no. 1 (2001): 191-204.] [Keith, S. "Human rights: the sixtieth anniversary."(2008)]
Initially, the idea of Human rights was not a universal concept and was perceived to be a product of the European thought in the 17th and 18th Centuries. The rights were expressed through religious systems of the world and through concepts such as natural Justice, which stressed the importance of social responsibility. However, scholars came up to advance the concept by shifting their focus to individual persons from group actions. This new approach of natural law was seen important to the welfare of the community through the manipulation of great scholars of the time such as Locke and Hobbes.[Zurbuchen, S. Universal Human Rights and the Claim to Recognition of Cultural Difference,(2009)] [Eric.N. "Do International Human Rights Treaties Improve Respect for Human Rights?"(2005) .The Journal of Conflict Resolution.]
The concept spread into various realms among them politics, where questions arose as to whether and to what extent individuals could give up their natural rights to be governed by others. As a result, most states enacted laws pertaining political rights such as women voting in Europe. However, the greatest advancement in human rights knowledge occurred after World War II. This was the formulation and approval of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. Since then, other several international Conventions, Covenants, Declarations and other treaties have been established.[Noelle.M. "Universal Human Rights in a World of Difference/Political Solidarity/Scales(2010)] [Larry, C. "a vision of a world made new: the universal declaration of human rights (2004)]
The Universality of Human Rights
Universality is the dominant characteristic associated with Human rights as they apply to all people in the world. All human beings are holders of human rights that protect their dignity regardless of their ethnicity, sex, religion, colour, morality, language, age, sex, ethnic or social origin, religion, language, nationality, age and independent of what they do, where they come from and where they live. The concept of universality however, has some related concepts that make it more meaningful. Since, Human rights have been acknowledged globally, they are valid and same everywhere and same for all persons. Every person has these rights and cannot be denied these rights since they are egalitarian protecting the basic and essential elements of human existence. All Human rights are one and cannot be separated. For instance, Civil and political rights cannot be detached from economic, social and cultural rights.[Keith, S. "A declaration of human responsibilities?." (2012)] ["The Universality of Human Rights under Examination" PR Newswire, Sep 06, 2010]
None of these rights takes precedence over the others and become legitimate through absolute justification by all states. Human rights therefore, are perceived to be owned by each individual and each individual has control over their own rights. It is upon the individuals to either give up the rights or not. The next section looks at the Justifications that make Human rights a universal application principle.[Taylor, C., Conditions of an Unforced Consensus on Human Rights,(1999)] [Van, de Ven. "Human Rights as a Normative Basis for Stakeholder Legitimacy."(2005)]
The Validity of Human rights
In the beginning, the concept of human rights was perceived to have been a European concept to carry on with its control over its former colonies. This however has been disapproved by human rights advocates who have argued in support for the adoption of the concept in all states explaining that the concept is inherently good. In recent years, individuals and the society at large have shifted their perceptions about the extent of the application of Human rights concepts. This has attracted many scholars and researchers to the field of Human Rights. As a result, individuals have sought to understand the whole subject and determine its validity. The familiarity about human rights has empowered individuals and provided solutions for the various challenges that people have been encountering in life and has fostered values of tolerance, equality and respect thereby reducing the anarchy seen in the world systems. Putting human rights ideas into practice has helped create an orderly society where human dignity is prioritised.[Balfour, Ian, and Cadava, E. "The Claims of Human Rights." (2004) South Atlantic Quarterly 103] [Nico.S. "the UN human rights council: a new 'society of the committed' or just old wine in new bottles?" Leiden journal of international law 20, no. 4 (2007): 809-823.]
Article one of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) takes humanity as the focal point and illustrates the rationality, equality and the dignity that human beings posses.. Sine people have a stable conscience and are rational; they are supposed to treat others as they would expect to be treated. A...
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