Abstract

This paper develops a preliminary model of a theory called "human justice" to augment prevailing ideas in human rights. ;The current human rights scene is placed in context in Chapter I, the Introduction. The human rights climate is examined in the light of rapidly changing world events, particularly the end of the Cold War, the rise of communal violence, and increasing global environmental stress. ;The pertinent human rights literature is examined in Chapter II, with a view towards understanding the meaning of human rights in today's context. The history of the issue is surveyed, as is the major document, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Some of the literature which discusses problems of human rights theory is discussed, particularly with the purpose of understanding problems of universality and cultural bias in human rights. ;A context for human rights theory in contemporary philosophy is provided in Chapter III. The chapter indicates the origins of the current discussion in contemporary philosophy and explains why particular ideas and philosophers were selected for inclusion in this chapter. While several philosophers are discussed, the pertinent aspects of the work of three contemporary philosophers are highlighted and connected with the human rights debate. The three are Jurgen Habermas, Richard Rorty, and John Rawls. ;The fourth chapter presents a preliminary account of a model called "human justice." The origin of the term in the S-matrix physics of Geoffrey Chew and the new paradigm thinking of Fritjof Capra are explained. The structure of the human justice model is explicated in detail, followed by a definition. The term is then placed in relationship to the previously discussed human rights issues. The human justice model is then considered in the light of some contemporary philosophy, both as philosophy illuminates the model, and as it might assist in the model's further development.