Toward Universality; Human Rights and the Necessity of Natural Law Open Access
Eye, William E. (2012)
Published
Abstract
The central argument of this thesis is that the moral
universality of human rights
requires a single, universal foundation. First, we must prove that
a single
foundation is possible. Chapter One argues that it is, and that
liberal natural law is
the most fitting moral framework in which to secure the
universality of human
rights. After demonstrating the possibility of a single foundation,
we turn our
attention to its necessity. This project seeks to show that the
consensus theory of
human rights - that human rights are universal in reach across
myriad, culturally
specific foundations - is inadequate in its historic contingency.
If we are to take
human rights' claim to universality seriously, there must be an
appeal to a non-
contingent basis.
The merits of a natural law foundation to human rights are
numerous.
Natural reason as a fundamental moral criterion is not peculiar to
any particular
culture or time period and as such is an apt measure of
international black-letter
law. Though natural law does categorically reject cultural
relativism, it need not
necessitate cultural chauvinism. Rather, human rights as
expressions of practical
reasonableness can be conceived of as limitations on cultural
pluralism, promoting
disparate cultural practices insofar as they are in accord with
reason. Finally,
human rights as an outline of the common good serve as a measure of
a regime's
legitimacy, specifying when it may be justified for a state to
limit individual or
collective rights in the name of public order (which itself is
reducible to rights-
claims).
Table of Contents
Introduction………………………………………………………………………….…………………….………..1
Chapter One: The Natural Law Foundation of Human Rights………………..….....…….7
1.1 A Brief History of Natural Law……………………………………………………………….…......8
1.2 The Principles of Liberal Natural Law………………………………………………….……. …10
1.3 Basic Goods and Practical Principles…………………………………………………….…...…12
1.4 Practical Reasonableness and Natural Rights………………………………………..………15
1.5 The Etymology of "Right".……………………………………………..………………………………17
1.6 The Grammar of Rights…………………………………………...…………………………….………19
1.7 The Limitation and Derogation of Human Rights…………………………….…….……...21
1.8 Cultural Relativism and the International Community…………………………...………24
1.9 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………………..….....26
Chapter Two: A Debate within the Class of Human Rights………………………..……….27
2.1 The Content of the Covenants……………………………………………………………...……..28
2.2 The Full-Belly Thesis…………………………………………………………………...………..……..29
2.3 The Relationship of the Covenants………………………………………….…………...……..30
2.4 Third Generation Rights………………………………………………………………....………..…..33
2.5 The Question of non-Derogable and Inalienable Rights……………………….….…….36
2.6 Absolute Rights………………………………………………………………………….…………..………38
2.7 Equality and Priority…………………………………………………………………………......………41
2.8 Fundamental Rights.………………………………………………………………………......…………42
2.9 All Rights are Created Equally……………………………………………………………....……….43
Chapter Three: The Necessity of a Universal Foundation……………….……………………45
3.1 Rawls' Theory of Justice…………………………………………………………….….……………….46
3.2 Rawls' Principles as Requirements of Practical Reason…………………………………..47
3.3 Rawls' Eschewal of Foundationalism………………………………………………..……………..49
3.4 A Natural Law Reading of Rawls…………………………………………………….………..……..51
3.5 Apostasy and Shariah Law………………………………………..………………………..………….53
3.6 A Historical Approach to Islamic Law……………………………………………..….……………54
3.7 Consensus through Reemphasis………………………………………..…………..……...……….56
3.8 The Contingency of Consensus………………………………………………………..….………...57
3.9 The Necessity of a Universal Foundation…………………..……………………………………59
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………………...…...……….62
Bibliography………………………………………………………………………………………….....……...…..66
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