Intersecting Visions of Justice: The Philosophical Tapestry of Human Rights and Human Nature in the Thoughts of Macintyre, Arendt, Nino, and Habermas

Abstract

This study explores the philosophical foundations of human rights concerning freedom, equality, and solidarity through the lenses of Iusnaturalism, Iuspositivism, and Ethical Constructivism, with a special focus on Alasdair MacIntyre, Hanna Arendt, Carlos Santiago Nino, and Jürgen Habermas. It examines MacIntyre’s revision of Iusnaturalism with an Aristotelian approach, Arendt’s methodological Iuspositivism highlighting legal frameworks, Nino’s rationality-based human rights theory, and Habermas’ emphasis on communicative action and social constructs. This research navigates the dynamic interplay of these theories, offering a multi-dimensional perspective on the evolution, validation, and application of human rights in contemporary society. Significantly, it introduces a dialectical perspective on rationality as a dynamic and evolving human attribute, addressing the constructivist necessities in defining human nature amidst prevailing uncertainties.