Human Rights: Origins and Justification - Part 2: Replies to Objections

Following on from Part 1, Leslie Allan continues his defence of one humanist approach to human rights: that our notion of human rights arose as a response to abject suffering, grounded in our basic needs for security and happiness. In this concluding part, he addresses critiques of this consequentialist view. In particular, he will respond to the objections that a consequentialist approach devalues human autonomy and dignity, leads to unjust outcomes and ignores the rights of minorities. Finally, he answers the objection that human happiness cannot be measured.