Overview

The term “human rights” is relatively recent. It was first used in the late 18th century, in the West. However, many of the basic ideas behind that concept had long been current in various other cultures and civilizations. The book traces those ideas on a journey to some unexplored, or insufficiently explored, sources of what we now call human rights, in three stages: ancient China with Confucius and Mencius; the golden age of Islam with Avicenna, Averroes and Ibn Khaldun; and 16th century Spain with Las Casas and de Vitoria. The author’s conclusion is that human rights and the fundamental concepts of reason, justice and dignity which underlie them can be a powerful, leavening source of universal human unity.

Full Product Details

Author:   Peter Leuprecht
Publisher:   Brill
Imprint:   Martinus Nijhoff
Volume:   77
Dimensions:   Width: 16.00cm , Height: 0.80cm , Length: 24.00cm
Weight:   0.231kg
ISBN:  

9789004220430

ISBN 10:   9004220437
Pages:   110
Publication Date:   23 December 2011
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Available To Order  
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Table of Contents

Acknowledgements; Introduction: Why this book? A journey to some unexplored sources of human rights; Chapter I: First Stage – Harmony through Humaneness: Confucius and Mencius; Section 1: Confucius – loving the other; Section 2: Mencius – the thinking heart; Section 3: What have we discovered?; Chapter II: Second Stage – Faith and Reason Avicenna, Averroes and Ibn Khaldun; Section 1: Avicenna – the rational soul; Section 2: Averroes – the primacy of autonomous reason; Section 3: Ibn Khaldun – the global thinker; Section 4: What have we discovered?; Chapter III: Third Stage – The Equal Dignity of Others: Bartolomé de Las Casas and Francisco de Vitoria; Context: the theory and practice of Christian imperialism; Section 1: Bartolomé de Las Casas – champion of the “Indians”; Section 2: Francisco de Vitoria – tormented doubter and father of international law; Section 3: What have we discovered?; Conclusion: What have we discovered?; What are we bringing home from our journey? - A powerful incentive to promote intercultural and inter-religious dialogue; Index.

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Author Information

Peter Leuprecht, Doctor of Law, University of Innsbruck (Austria), former Director of Human Rights and Deputy Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, retired Professor of McGill and Université du Québec à Montréal. He has published extensively on international law and human rights.

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