Hatis Acar: 'One Truth is Not Enough: On the Limits of Monist Human Rights Theories'
Abstract: This presentation challenges the idea that human rights must be grounded in a single, universal foundation. Traditional human rights theories often rely on monist assumptions—seeking to justify human rights through one comprehensive moral, theological, or political framework. Examples include religious doctrines that emphasize human dignity as derived from divine creation, natural law theories that assert rights based on human nature, and political theories that frame rights as tools for promoting social stability or individual autonomy.
While these accounts may offer coherent internal logic, they each emerge from particular worldviews and thus struggle to achieve broad legitimacy in a pluralistic global society. No single moral framework commands universal assent, and attempting to impose one as the basis for human rights risks alienating those who do not share that specific outlook.
