Human rights and the new circle of equity

Ernest Gellner

pp. 125-140

in: Fred D'agostino, I. C. Jarvie (eds), Freedom and rationality, Berlin, Springer, 1989

Abstract

The issue of human rights is seen in the West in the context of a very distinctive institutional and ideological background. This includes a state which is both strong enough to ensure public order without tolerating coercive self-help on the part of sub-communities, and yet not strong enough to dominate civil society, and which can be checked by it. Moreover, it is an instrumental state, one charged with the performance of a set of tasks which, however, do not include responsibility for ultimate human fulfilment, or for the rule of righteousness. The suppression of all corruption on earth is not necessarily the state's business, at least not unless it disturbs the neighbours.