The Person and the Definition of Human Rights
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Abstract
The article analyses the philosophical and practical complexities of human rights, emphasising the central role of the person as the foundation of these rights. It explores the metaphysical and anthropological foundations of human rights, highlighting the person's intrinsic dignity and relational character. It also reflects on the historical evolution of human rights and the categorisation into generations, addressing criticisms of their expansion and division. The tensions between universalism and cultural relativism are highlighted, as well as the need for a global consensus in a context marked by global justice challenges and colonialism's historical legacy.
Furthermore, the text criticises the reductionist view of legal positivism, which detaches human rights from their ethical and anthropological foundations and calls for a deeper reflection on human dignity and its centrality in shaping political communities and normative systems. It is argued that the defence of human rights requires a holistic understanding of the person that transcends the boundaries of legal and political structures to promote justice and equity in all dimensions of social life.
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