Monash University Handbook 2010 Undergraduate - Unit

Synopsis

This unit investigates a number of current debates that involve human rights that have implications for recent political controversies. For instance: do cultural and religious minorities have special claims to group rights? Can group rights be reconciled with the individualist basis of human rights-thinking? Do the expanding rights of children conflict with the rights of parents to exercise parental authority? Does human rights-discourse create a culture of litigiousness and selfishness? If we ascribe rights to groups to maintain the existence of their culture, does this conflict with our duties to receive refugees?

Objectives

Students successfully completing this subject should have developed:

1. Mastery of the content of several key controversies surrounding human rights.
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

One 2-hour lecture per week + One 1-hour tutorial per week

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

Human rights theory

Prerequisites

HRY1010 is not required but strongly recommended.

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

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