Declaration of Human Rights

1. Choose three philosophers.
2. Write two declarations from the point of view of your chosen philosophers.
3. Brainstorm possible societal links.
4. Write a paragraph otlining why your article links to your person.
5. Outline the tangible societal link.

EX:

My Declaration of Human Rights

Article 1

Every person has the right to the conditions necessary to subsist. This includes the right to food, shelter, clothing, and medicine. – The Buddha

Article 2

Every person has the right to their choice of religion – or choice of none - as well as the freedom to safely practice their beliefs. –The Buddha

Buddha and modern Buddhists follow a philosophy of equality, peace, comfort and temperance. This makes them perfect candidates for formulating a declaration of human rights. As well, they have a admirable tolerance and acceptance with people of all creeds; everyone deserves basic rights.2
The first article covers the bare minimum required for human survival. Although obviously not every person is a Buddhist, the minimum requirements preached by the Buddha should be available to all. As mentioned, Buddha stated that the conditions necessary to live a comfortable life are food, shelter, clothing, and medicine. While it is totally acceptable to indulge ones self further the inhabitants of society should never be denied those 4 conditions.1

The second article is one that Buddhists are well respected for. Buddha realized that not everyone has the same inclinations and beliefs, and so he taught a variety of methods of practice; variation depended on the beliefs of the person. Following the Buddha the Dali Lama has acknowledged the wonder of a world filled with so many religions. It is a Buddhist understanding that just as one food will not appeal to everybody, one religion will not satisfy everyone’s needs. Thus it is common, even required, for a Buddhist to allow different beliefs to exist; the world benefits from such a ranging selection of beliefs to choose.3
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Article 5- Thomas Aquinas
No one shall be held in slavery or servitude

Thomas Aquinas, Italian philosopher and Christian theologian, was the first to combine the idea of God with reasoning, happiness and virtue. He believed that people could only achieve perfection by using their reason to know God. Thomas said an action is considered moral if God accepts it. “What God deems right is right and what he deems wrong is wrong.”(Aquinas) He believed an act is good or bad depending on whether it contributes to or deters us from our human end, which is happiness.

How it relates to today

On Wednesday November 25th, 2009 federal prosecutors reported that they discovered an infant of a Mexican prostitute. However, this lady was not a prostitute by choice; a New York couple that resided in Brooklyn forced her. She was smuggled to the U.S by these two people. They kept her in a home where she was treated horribly. She was made to do disgusting things. On top of that, she was beaten so frequently with bricks and wooden boards that her body was covered with scars and bruises. Thomas Aquinas would disapprove of this event because not only did the couple break the law but they also broke one of the ten commandants, “Thou shalt not steal.” This New York couple stole the Mexican lady’s innocence and dignity and they stole her away from her country and family. Essentially, they stole her life without killing her.