S1.5 - Unicorns, utopia and mockery

S1.5 - Unicorns, utopia and mockery

Author: Global Campus of Human Rights April 4, 2022 Duration: 54:53

Are human rights real? How do they exist?

Ontological scepticism questions the very being of universal human rights. In its most explicit form, it asserts that human rights do not exist. As famously stated by the British moral philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre in response to the proclamation of rights belonging to all human beings merely on account of being human: ‘there are no such rights, and belief in them is one with belief in witches and in unicorns.’

Contemporary critics have, on a variety of related counts, expressed doubt about the concept of universal human rights for example questioning whether the abstract idea of humanity can ground a comprehensive and inclusive normative framework committed to social justice.

What such expressions of ontological scepticism confront human rights advocates with, above all, is the need to seriously reflect on the concept of human rights. The issue is not in a trivial sense whether human rights exist but rather how they exist, where they derive from, and what renders them normatively compelling.


Produced by the Global Campus of Human Rights, To the Righthouse is a podcast that navigates the complex and often turbulent waters where human rights meet the real world. The title itself is a guiding metaphor: just as a lighthouse warns ships of perilous coasts, this series aims to illuminate the risks and challenges facing fundamental freedoms today, while also pointing toward potential harbours of safer, more robust protection. Each episode grapples with the persistent gap between lofty ideals and ground-level realities, exploring that difficult space where theory confronts practice. You’ll hear from a range of voices-academics, advocates, and those directly affected-who bring multiple perspectives to these urgent discussions. The conversations aren't about easy answers; they delve into the nuanced, sometimes contentious work of seeking stability and just solutions in an unstable world. This isn't a lecture series, but a thoughtful exploration for anyone curious about the forces shaping dignity and justice globally. Tune in for a podcast that serves as both a beacon of critical thought and a forum for genuine, enlightening dialogue on the social scientific dimensions of our rights.
Author: Language: en-gb Episodes: 23

To the Righthouse
Podcast Episodes
S.4.1 -Music and human rights: amplifying the resonances [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:24
The first episode of Sounds of Justice teases out the different dimensions of the relationship between music and human rights. The four guests, all co-editors of the Routledge Companion, explore what the language of musi…
S.4.2- Music and liberation politics in the African diaspora [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:10
Music has been central to how people of African descent – in the United States and across the diaspora – have imagined and demanded justice . From Paul Robeson and Nina Simone to the present, this episode of Sounds of Ju…
S.4.3-Soundscapes of resilience in India and Palestine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:29
This episode of Sounds of Justice highlights two contexts where music has long voiced struggles for justice and human rights.From‘rebellious music gatherings’ spearheading the anti-caste movement in India to Palestinian…
S3.8 - Reimagining governance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:22
Politics and human rights or politics through human rights? We conclude this series with a conversation with Anja Mihr* focusing on the difference between ‘politics and human rights’ on the one hand and ‘politics through…
S3.7 - Reimagining actors [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:32
On the relevance of meaningful participation of stakeholders in politics One way to reimagine politics is to go through re-imagining the actual involvement of different actors. We talked about this with Gauri Van Gulik*…
S3.6 - Reimaging power [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:09
About the interplay between geopolitics and human rights Current geopolitical tensions play a very relevant role in politics, but what is the role of human rights there? To answer some of the questions surrounding this h…
S3.5 - Reimagining influence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:44
How can National Human Rights Institutions (NHRI) impact on politics? We continue the series with a conversation about spheres of influence in politics. We do this together with Debbie Kohner* who talks about NHRI and th…
S3.4 - Reimagining spaces [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:40
The importance of making room for rights-based politics In this episode, recorded during the FRA FORUM in Vienna, we focus on practicing human rights-based politics in institutional structures and spaces. Morten Kjaerum*…