Hans Joas Lecture: Human Rights and Universal Values

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October 26, 2009 | Can there be agreement about universal human rights? Given the diversity of religious and philosophical value traditions in today's world, is consensus possible? In his third Berkley Center lecture, Hans Joas argued that much depends on the way we talk about values with one another. We have to resist the notion that human rights controversies inevitably link to a "clash of civilizations," or that individuals and groups simply embrace and articulate the values that are right for them without reasoning or communication with others. The example of the drafting of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights illustrates the importance and possibility of productive communication about universal human rights across value traditions.

[@petrusbusu856]

I have seen it, I have heard this before, the time has at last arrived, and you helped International Advocasy Human Rights Institution.

[@McRyach]

Very Interesting. I think it is a specially important topic in our time of International world (as opposition of Global World) in the effort of understanding people whose value don't make sense to us. Westerners particularly. While Eastern thought was more perceptive in OTHER ways.

[@elliestanton2065]

So, just trying to comprehend his thoughts- does he think that the deceleration itself proves successful in generalizing values but currently Human rights are discusses in the west because of social change that the rest of the world has to catch up with?

[@johnstewart7025]

Value generalization or universal values. The enlightenment values like UN human rights are the newest values. They may be dominant in the West, but nowhere else.