On the Origins of Human Rights

Nicholson, Matthew

Abstract

This article reviews Pamela Slotte and Miia Halme-Tuomisaari’s edited volume Revisiting the Origins of Human Rights, treating it as an opportunity to reconsider theories about the history and origins of human rights thought and practice. It argues that the re-origination of human rights thought and practice in the context of contemporary realities should be prioritised over attempts to historicise human rights discourse, drawing on the work of philosopher and cultural theorist Walter Benjamin to advance this argument.

Citation

Nicholson, M. (2020). On the Origins of Human Rights. European Human Rights Law Review, 5, 512-525

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 21, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Sep 1, 2020
• Publication Date: 2020
• Deposit Date: Sep 7, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 1, 2021
• Journal: European Human Rights Law Review
• Print ISSN: 1361-1526
• Publisher: Sweet and Maxwell
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 5
• Pages: 512-525
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1262258
• Publisher URL: https://www.sweetandmaxwell.co.uk/Catalogue/ProductDetails.aspx?productid=30791306&recordid=388