What is it about?
In his monographs and numerous essays, John Witte traces the idea of human rights from the ancient Roman jurists through the medieval legal theorists on to Magna Cara and its massive influence on the laws and legal thought of England and the U.S. This essay sketches the high points of the story Witte tells, offers some constructive criticisms, and highlights how it undermines various alternative stories about the origins of the idea of human rights.
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Why is it important?
What is important about Witte's writing on human rights is not only its breadth and detail, but its undermining of the common claim that the idea of human rights is inseparable from individualists ways of thinking.This essay offers a summary account of Witte's work.
Perspectives
Reading Witte's work was eye-opening. I am a philosopher, and was rather well acquainted with the history of philosophical writing about rights. While Witte does not ignore the work of philosophers, mainly he explores legal history. What he brings to light was, to repeat, eye-opening.
Nicholas Wolterstorff
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: John Witte, Jr.’s Contributions to the Study of Human Rights and Religious Freedom, March 2024, Brill,
DOI: 10.1163/9789004546189_005.
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