Human rights, sustainability and standing: A humanist perspective.

Abstract

This paper outlines the relationship between human rights and sustainability, and establishes the context for potential research subjects in this field. The paper is premised on the proposition that a humanist conception of human rights and sustainability is plausible and can be put into practice. The paper begins with a conception of humanism that informs universal human rights. It provides a consideration of human rights, including their origins, generational classifications, and the functions that different social institutions may have in relation to human rights. Next, issues of anthropocentricism and standing in relation to an assertion of rights are examined. Arguments for animal rights and rights for natural objects are outlined and critiqued from a humanist perspective, with the aim of promoting a plausible conception of human and sustainability rights. The paper concludes with a non-exhaustive list of potential research topics derived from the discussion.