Human rights, rule of law and the contemporary social challenges in complex societies : proceedings of the 26th World Congress of the International Association for Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy in Belo Horizonte, 2013

Modern societies often claim to be democracies in order to enjoy greater legitimacy. Still, to understand the concept of democracy and how to justify it, the definition of it as self-determined is not sufficient. A complex understanding has to take into account ideas of rule of law as well as human rights. Sometimes these three concepts compete with each other – particularly in societies with a pluralistic approach to what "the good life" should be, such as societies which are made up of distinct cultural backgrounds. This book presents a concept of democracy that encompasses at the same time the ideas of rule of law, human rights and self-determination. It contains the main lectures of the XXVI World Congress of Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy, hosted by the Internationale Vereinigung für Rechts- und Sozialphilosophie at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (Brazil) in July 2013. Modern societies often claim to be democracies in order to enjoy greater legitimacy. Still, to understand the concept of democracy and how to justify it, the definition of it as self-determined is not sufficient. A complex understanding has to take into account ideas of rule of law as well as human rights. Sometimes these three concepts compete with each other - particularly in societies with a pluralistic approach to what "the good life" should be, such as societies which are made up of distinct cultural backgrounds. This book presents a concept of democracy that encompasses at the same time the ideas of rule of law, human rights and self-determination. It contains the main lectures of the XXVI World Congress of Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy, hosted by the Internationale Vereinigung fur Rechts- und Sozialphilosophie at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (Brazil) in July 2013. The Human Right To Democracy As The Capstone Of Law / Stephan Kirste -- Human Rights Challenges In The Contemporary World: Reflections On A Personal Journey Of Thought And Action / Celso Lafer -- Law, Reason, And Emotion / Mortimer N. S. Sellers -- Human Rights: Philosophical Foundations And Legal Dimensions / Norbert Horn -- Human Rights: A Democratic Way / Tom Campbell -- Contested Democracy And Rule Of Law(s) In Pluralistic Societies: The Example Of South Africa / Sindiso Mnisi Weeks -- Social Governance Of Communities In Peripheral Exclusion: Fundamental Questions About Its Effectiveness / Miracy Barbosa Gustin. Edited By Marcelo Campos Galuppo [and Four Others] ; Authors, Stephan Kirste [and Six Others]. International Conference Proceedings. Includes Bibliographical References. Table of Contents PREFACE I – Human Rights and democracy The Human Right to Democracy as the Capstone of Law Human Rights Challenges in the Contemporary World: Reflections on a Personal Journey of Thought and Action II – The Philosophical foundations of Human Rights Law, Reason, and Emotion Human Rights: Philosophical Foundations and Legal Dimensions Human Rights: A Democratic Way III – Human Rights, democracy and the Challenged Rule of Law Contested Democracy and Rule of Law(s) in Pluralistic Societies: The Example of South Africa Social Governance of Communities in Peripheral Exclusion: Fundamental Questions About Its Effectiveness