On Human Rights: The Oxford Amnesty Lectures 1993

For the lecture series, speakers of international reputation are invited to speak on a subject related to human rights. The public is charged to hear them, and the funds go to Amnesty International; but the content of the lectures is not to be construed as representing the views of that organization. Here, seven contributions discuss such subjects as the limits to natural law and the paradox of evil; majority rule and individual rights; crimes of war and peace; and human rights, rationality and sentimentality. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.

In the second volume of this new series, essays by seven renowned political philosophers focus on the fundamental question of human rights. Four of the writers present their position, using a theoretical paradigm; the others posit an idea with historical and contemporary events such as Bosnia as backdrop. Using terms like utili taria , communitaria , proletaria , libera taria , and egalataria, Stephen Lukes challenges the reader to think of these philosophies in a societal context. John Rawls identifies liberal and hierarchical societies to test the efficacy of human rights. Catherine MacKinnon counters the universal premise that only men suffer human rights violations, pointing out that women continue to be exploited even in peacetime. Recommended for scholars, students, and all citizens.
- Kevin Whalen, Montville P.L., N.J.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.