Democracy and human rights Essay

This essay is traveling to be about some of the philosophers whose ideas about democracy and human rights affected the declaration of human rights, and besides about the slowing itself.

The first grounds of Human rights were given by Cyrus the great around 539 BC. After suppressing Babylon he had the “ Cyrus cylinder ” created saying that he overthrew the old male monarch and that he had greatly improved the lives of Babylonians. This is considered to be one of the first human rights charters as it is said that Cyrus freed slaves and said that every one should hold freedom of faith. Whether it was put into action bookmans disagree about, some say it is propaganda to win the Black Marias of his freshly conquered metropolis. Nonetheless he was the first leader to hold those thoughts.

We will write a custom essay sample on
Democracy and human rights Essay
or any similar topic only for you
Order now

Democracy means people regulation in Greek and ancient Greece is considered to be the place of democracy. But merely a few select were allowed to vote. Is that truly people regulation?

Plato was sceptic to “ people regulation ” and thought that people were non to be trusted with power as they are easy swayed by strong leaders. In Plato ‘s chef-d’oeuvre “ The Republic ” he suggests many different types of authorities and today it would non be a good manual for a good authorities as Plato strived for an “ Utopian ” society. The authoritiess suggested in “ The Republic ” do non resemble “ modern ” democracies and constitutional monarchies. But some absolutisms can resemble Plato ‘s “ Utopia ” . Plato nevertheless suggested that adult females and work forces should hold equal rights which is really relevant to human rights.

Aristotle, unlike Plato, was non concerned with making a perfect society. He wanted to better the bing 1. However he was, like Plato besides doubting towards democracy or “ mob regulation ” .

In Aristotle ‘s ideal province an Enlightened male monarch would govern alongside the aid of an Educated Aristocracy and a Popular Assembly that respected the regulation of jurisprudence. This thought resembles the current U.S. Model. Aristotle nevertheless believed that it was the adult female ‘s function to obey as it was for the adult male ‘s to command.

Other philosophers are John Locke and Thomas Hobbes, we can clearly see similarities between their thoughts, and how our modern society is formed.

Thomas Hobbes believed that: “ Each adult male must be contented with so much autonomy against other work forces as he would let other work forces against himself “ , that is similar to the aureate regulation: “ Dainty others as you wish to be treated yourself. ” Hobbes lived in the clip when the English civil war took topographic point, he believed that worlds are avaricious and evil.

John Locke on the other manus, believed that people are good and tolerant. He said that: “ Peoples are free to make whatever they want every bit long as they do non damage person else ‘s: life, wellness, autonomy or ownerships ” . He besides believed that: “ Everyone must hold to manus over power to one cardinal authorization whose occupation it is to enforce the jurisprudence and badly punish law-breakers ” .

John Locke had a more optimistic position on world whilst Thomas Hobbes had a more negative position on adult male. Hobbes would compare adult male to animals except for one difference, adult male was ever viing for honor and self-respect: “ Are continually in competition for honor and self-respect ” ( Leviathan, XVII, p.111 )

These philosophers may non hold straight affected the democracy we have today, but with their thoughts they are certain to hold influenced many other minds in assisting to make the authorities we have today.

“ It has been said that democracy is the worst signifier of authorities except all the others that have been tried. ” – Winston Churchill.

The cosmopolitan declaration of human rights was born on December 10, 1958 and is non a lawfully binding papers. It was non made lawfully binding because if it was so no states would hold adopted it. As it is today the states that want to do it legal can merely make so by integrating it into the fundamental law.

Article one and two can be seen as the foundation blocks of the human rights. They are negative rights because they restrict people from favoritism. The articles province that: “ everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set Forth in this declaration ” . The chief point of the two articles is that everyone are equal and free without any signifier of favoritism. The thoughts about equality between work forces and adult females can be found in Plato ‘s thoughts about equality “ adult females should be treated every bit with work forces ”

Articles 3, 4 and 5 province that everybody should be secure and free and that cipher should be denied their security and freedom. The job with these articles is that they are really obscure and can be interpreted otherwise by each state. A subject that is widely discussed is abortion, the declaration of human rights clearly province that everyone has the right to populate. But when does that right take action? When the kid is conceived or when the kid is born?

Article 26 discusses the issue of instruction. It goes back to the foundation blocks stating that everyone has the equal right to education no affair what sex, race or nationality. It besides says that the defenders have the authorization to the instruction for their kid, until they come of legal age. The right to education can be seen in Jeremy Bentham ‘s thoughts, he “ called for right to education for all ”

Article 17 negotiations about the right to have belongings and non to be deprived of it without any concrete grounds. This right could be based on John Locke ‘s thought about belongings and net income: “ private ownership of belongings and net income ” significance that no authorities or province has the right to claim your belongings and net income.

Article 21 consists of positive rights that give you the right to impact the pick of authorities. It gives you the right to vote no affair sex or race and to make so anonymously and free of cost. Jeremy Bentham believed in vote rights for working work forces and adult females.

Thomas Hobbes and the natural jurisprudence tradition by norberto bobbio 1993 I think and translated by Daniela Gobetti

×

Hi there, would you like to get such a paper? How about receiving a customized one? Check it out