ABSTRACT
Philosophers from across the political spectrum have raised criticisms of human rights for centuries. The expression "human rights" is now commoner than either of the eighteenth century expressions. In the United Nations declaration on human rights of 1949 what has since become the normal UN practice of not giving good reasons for any assertions whatsoever is followed with great rigor. Human rights are those considerations that protect each and every human being from being subjected to treatment solely in accordance with the outcomes of utilitarian calculations. Radha D'Souza argues that many people's conception of rights does not match up well with today's economic and technological reality. Under statute law, each aspect of social life is cast into a distinct legislation or statute which makes it difficult to envisage the social whole. A statute may grant the "right" to education, but treasury and fiscal management rules may simultaneously require cuts in spending.
