Philosophical Theory and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Preface

PREFACE The twentiethcenturywasthecenturyofhuman rights - of their massiveviolation, but also of humanity's increased recognition of them. From the Declaration des droits internationaux de rhomme (Declaration of the international rights of man, adopted by the Institute of International Law during its session at New York on 12 October 1929) to the recent discussion of the establishment of an International Court of Justice, the notions of "right" and "human rights" can no longer be said to be creatures of rarefied philosophical discourse. They are part of the basic vocabulary of people andpeoples throughout the world - particularly thosewho struggle against tyranny and oppression. Today's human rights discourse and documentsreflect over two centuries of philosophical discussion, but there has been a reciprocal influence of charters, declarations, and international conventions on the way people think about human rights. This volume investigates some of these interrelationships between philosophical theory and human rights documents. This volume is dedicated to Leon Charette (1935-1996), a longtimemember and former President of the Canadian Jacques Maritain Association. An alumnus and professor of philosophy at the University of Ottawa, Leon was a defender of the thought of one of the twentieth century's principal architects of philosophical thinking about human rights, Jacques Maritain. Leon's sense of justice and compassion and his dedication to the cause of human dignity were evident in both his research and his relations withhis students and colleagues. It is appropriate that he be acknowledged in a lasting way in a volume of studies on the philosophical discussion of human rights. I wish to thank the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Fr. Edo Gatto Chair of Christian Studies (St. Francis Xavier University) for financial support that madethe preparation of this volumepossible. I also wish to thank Ms Marcy Baker for secretarial support and Ms Monica MacKinnon for carefully copyediting the text. William Sweet St Francis Xavier University This page intentionally left blank ...