Monash University Handbook 2010 Undergraduate - Unit

Synopsis

This unit is an introduction to the discipline of human rights theory. The central topic around which the unit is organised is the universality of human rights. Why are human rights universal? Is there a foundation for the universality of human rights? Does cultural relativism pose a problem for human rights? Students will be exposed to a variety of views on these and related questions. The unit requires no special background in any discipline.

Objectives

Students successfully completing this subject should have developed:

1. Mastery of the basic concepts of human rights, the structure of the most important international human rights legal instruments and the central justifications offered for taking human rights to be universal.
2. Improved writing skills.
3. Improved oral communication skills.
4. Familiarity with central positions in philosophical accounts of the justification and explanation of human rights.
5. Skills to assist them to conduct independent research in human rights topics.

Assessment

Written work (3,500 words): 70%
Examination (1 hour): 30%

Chief examiner(s)

Toby Handfield

Contact hours

Two 1-hour lecture per week and One 1-hour tutorial per week

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Human rights theory

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/philosophy/human-rights-theory/