In Defense of Human Rights: A Non-Religious Grounding in a Pluralistic World (Routledge Innovations in Political Theory)

Kohen's book is a much needed exploration of human rights in an increasingly multi-cultural world. It would be useful in political theory courses, courses on international law, and specific topics courses related to the beliefs of Rorty and other modern philosophers who have dealt with the subject. A great reference for all libraries to own.

The argument that religion provides the only compelling foundation for human rights is both challenging and thought-provoking and answering it is of fundamental importance to the furthering of the human rights agenda.

This book establishes an equally compelling non-religious foundation for the idea of human rights, engaging with the writings of many key thinkers in the field, including Michael J. Perry, Alan Gewirth, Ronald Dworkin and Richard Rorty. Ari Kohen draws on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a political consensus of overlapping ideas from cultures and communities around the world that establishes the dignity of humans and argues that this dignity gives rise to collective human rights. In constructing this consensus, we have succeeded in establishing a practical non-religious foundation upon which the idea of human rights can rest.

In Defense of Human Rights will be of interest to students and scholars of political theory, philosophy, religious studies and human rights.

Book Cover......Page 1 Half-Title......Page 2 Series-Title......Page 3 Title......Page 6 Copyright......Page 7 Dedication......Page 8 Contents......Page 10 Acknowledgments......Page 12 Prologue: Starvin' for Justice......Page 16 Introduction: The first day of class......Page 21 1. Michael Perry and the religious cosmology: Foundations and critiques of human rights......Page 28 2. The possibility of non-religious human rights: Alan Gewirth and the Principle of Generic Consistency......Page 53 3. The problem of secular sacredness: Ronald Dworkin, Michael Perry, and human rights foundationalism......Page 79 4. Human dignity without teleology: Human rights and evolutionary biology......Page 100 5. Does might make human rights?: Sympathy, solidarity, and subjectivity in Richard Rorty's final vocabulary......Page 124 6. Rights and wrongs without God: A non-religious grounding for human rights in a pluralistic world......Page 144 Notes......Page 167 Bibliography......Page 207 Index......Page 214 Michael Perry And The Religious Cosmology: Foundations And Critiques Of Human Rights -- The Possibility Of Non-religious Human Rights: Alan Gewirth And The Principle Of Generic Consistency -- The Problem Of Secular Sacredness: Ronald Dworkin, Michael Perry, And Human Rights Foundationalism -- Human Dignity Without Teleology: Human Rights And Evolutionary Biology -- Does Might Make Human Rights? Sympathy, Solidarity, And Subjectivity In Richard Rorty's Final Vocabulary -- Rights And Wrong Without God: A Non-religious Grounding For Human Rights In A Pluralistic World. Ari Kohen. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [192]-198) And Index. This book seeks to establish a defence of human rights that can be shared by non-religious and religious people