Inventing Human Rights
Write a formal essay of 1,250-1,500 words of text, (not including title pages, works cited, etc.).
The essay is worth up to 10 course points.
Lynn Hunt asks the question of why human rights conceived of as natural, equal and universal appeared for the first time at the end of the 18th century? How does Hunt answer her own question?
Hunt raises the point that human rights are claimed to be “self-evident.” But if this were the case, why must they be declared? How does she address this paradox?
More than a century and a half passed between the 18th century declarations and the adoption of the Universal Declaration in 1948. How does Hunt explain this long break?
Do you accept her topic that the concept of human rights developed only in the 18th century in Europe and North America? Why or why not?
In her last sentences Hunt claims that “…you know the meaning of human rights because you feel distressed when they are violated.” Do you think this is true in contemporary America in which government torture and extra-judicial executions by drone may be condoned?
Be sure to include specific examples and quotes from the text to illustrate and support your points in this essay.
