Human rights and collective goods: a non-individualistic approach

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Published: Mar 25, 2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/ethiki.22774
Keywords:
Human Rights; Collective Goods; Joseph Raz; Non-individualism; Autonomy; John Finnis; Political Culture; Communal Peace
Maria-Artemis Kolliniati
Abstract

This article proposes a re-reading of Joseph Raz’s account of rights, moving away from a strictly individualistic "interest theory" toward what the author terms "double dimension rights". The study highlights two attributes: the "why-dimension," which connects rights to the preservation of collective goods and communal peace, and the "how-dimension," which addresses the practical application of rights within a political culture. By analyzing the relationship between individual autonomy and the well-being of the community, Kolliniati argues that rights are not merely side-constraints to protect isolated individuals but are essential for maintaining the shared moral and public culture necessary for harmonious coexistence. The article further engages with John Finnis’s natural law theory to contrast and supplement the non-individualistic approach to rights and collective interests.

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