Theories of Human Rights — KSLU Hr Notes
Theories of Human Rights
flowchart TD
HR["Theories of Human Rights"]:::root
HR --> NL["Natural Law Theory — Locke, Aquinas, Grotius"]:::theory
HR --> POS["Positivist Theory — Austin, Bentham"]:::theory
HR --> SC["Social Contract Theory — Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau"]:::theory
HR --> UT["Utilitarian Theory — Bentham, J.S. Mill"]:::theory
HR --> MAR["Marxist Theory — Karl Marx"]:::theory
HR --> SW["Social Welfare Theory — Roscoe Pound"]:::theory
HR --> EQ["Liberal Equality Theory — Dworkin, Rawls"]:::theory
classDef root fill:#FFF8DC,stroke:#000,stroke-width:1px,color:#000;
classDef theory fill:#E6F3FF,stroke:#1E3A8A,stroke-width:1px,color:#000;
linkStyle default stroke:#888,stroke-width:1px;| Theory | Core Idea | Modern Echo |
|---|---|---|
| Natural Law | Rights come from human nature / God / reason | Art. 1 UDHR — “born free” |
| Positivist | Only state-made law creates rights | Statutory rights; Art. 21 Constitution |
| Social Contract | People surrender some freedom for State protection | Preamble, Indian Constitution |
| Utilitarian | Greatest good of greatest number | DPSPs — Part IV, Indian Constitution |
| Marxist | Rights protect workers from capital exploitation | ICESCR; Right to Work |
| Social Welfare | Law balances competing social interests | Reasonable restrictions — Art. 19(2) |
| Liberal Equality | Equal concern and respect for all persons | Art. 14; NALSA v. UoI (2014) |