The Idea of Human Rights Revisited: Charles Beitz and the Political Turn in the Philosophy of Human Rights

Charles Beitz's book "The Idea of Human Rights" reconstructs the idea of human rights as part of a global discursive practice that can only be understood in the framework of the international system of states. This volume takes stock of his contribution to the political turn in the philosophy of human rights and proposes to extend them further in their connection with humanistic accounts of human rights, with the plurality of contexts in which the practice of human rights takes place, and with the interconnections between these rights and global justice or intergenerational justice.

Format: Hardback
Length: 168 pages
Publication date: 18 August 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive volume offers a thorough examination of Charles Beitz's groundbreaking contribution to the so-called political turn in the philosophy of human rights, which finds its roots in the work of the late Rawls. In his seminal book "The Idea of Human Rights" (2009), Beitz proposes a novel perspective on human rights by viewing them not as mere legal and political manifestations of fully justified moral rights, but rather as part of a broader global discursive practice that can only be fully understood within the framework of the international system of states in which we live. Within this system of interdependent states, characterized by the dispersion of political authority, human rights emerge as a complex array of internal justifications and critiques rather than a blueprint for an ideal society.

The chapters in this volume explore these fundamental ideas further, drawing upon Beitz's insights and extending them to encompass humanistic accounts of human rights, the diverse contexts in which human rights are practiced, and the interconnections between these rights and global justice or intergenerational justice. Each chapter in this book was originally published as a special issue of "Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy," showcasing the cutting-edge scholarship and critical thinking in this field.

By delving into the complexities of human rights, this volume provides a valuable contribution to the ongoing debate and discussion about the nature, scope, and implications of these fundamental rights in the contemporary world. It sheds light on the ways in which Beitz's ideas challenge traditional understandings of human rights and offer new avenues for understanding and promoting human well-being on a global scale.

Weight: 490g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032292168