Human Rights and the Humanities: Culture and Critique

The existence of human rights – the holding of certain rights or privileges by virtue of being human – is often in the West considered self-evident, as Thomas Jefferson famously wrote. But what are the foundations of human rights and what are its effects in a time of stress? A progressive proponent today might approve of social changes such as extending the right to marry to all adult citizens in a number of countries, while at the same time be horrified by the largest European refugee crisis since 1945. What can the future of human rights be in the face of new threats to the world order and the rise of demagogic, nativist politics? What new perspectives are required by globalized culture or the violent opposition to human rights by some detractors? This symposium seeks to consider human rights in a larger perspective, one that the humanities are particularly capable of providing.

The programme is available to view here