Prof. Tom Campbell: Human Rights Issues Experience Demythology

 

Human Rights are rights that should be  universally acknowledged as the rights inherent in human in order that they appreciate and tolerate each other.  In the past two decades, the term of 'Human Rights' was used not more than a myth by groups or rulers for the sake of politics.

Therefore, the term of ‘Rights” needs to be cleared from merely rhetoric of discourse to a fact in its implementation. “Human Rights cases viewed from philosophical aspect are experiencing demythology. This assumption should be reconstructed to avoid misuse,” said Australian Philosopher, Prof. Tom Campbell, in a general lecture entitled “Facts and Rhetorics of Human Rights” in the auditorium of Faculty of Philosophy, UGM, Monday (2/11).

In his paper, this Director of Center for Applied Philosophy and Public Etiquette Studies, Australian National University, tried to clarify  the term ‘right' which became the main discourse in philosophical law study and philosophical politics. “Unfortunately, today 'Right' has become ambiguous. This ambiguity emphasizes that ‘right’ has transcended the borders of discourse as an issue in law, social or even moral theories,” he added. To overcome that, he suggested the importance of dividing and placing correctly between 'real' and 'rhetorical rights'.

As said by event coordinator, Samsul Ma’arif M., S.Fil., M.A., besides giving general lectures on 2 and 5 November, together with Dr. Heeyong Park from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Korea, this author of popular book Seven Theories of Human Society will assess the curriculum of Faculty of Philosophy, UGM. “Starting with an explanation about the development of philosophical learning in the world, Prof. Campbell will give suggestions. The inputs from them both can hopefully be made materials for the curriculum of the Faculty,” said this lecturer of Faculty of Philosophy, UGM.