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Related Experiment Videos

The trouble with universal declarations.

David Benatar1

  • 1Dept of Philosophy, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, 7701, Cape Town, South Africa, dbenatar@humanities.uct.ac.za.

Developing World Bioethics
|September 1, 2005
PubMed
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Universal declarations often face challenges achieving consensus due to minimalist or vague claims. Alternatively, strong stances may privilege dominant viewpoints, raising questions about their ultimate benefit.

Area of Science:

  • Political Science
  • Philosophy
  • Sociology

Background:

  • Universal declarations aim for broad agreement but face inherent difficulties.
  • Achieving consensus often results in minimalist or vague statements.
  • Unequivocal declarations risk promoting hegemonic viewpoints.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the inherent problems in drafting universal declarations.
  • To explore the tension between consensus-building and substantive claims.
  • To question the potential positive impact of such declarations despite their flaws.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual analysis of the nature of universal declarations.
  • Examination of the dynamics of consensus formation in international or group settings.
Keywords:
Bioethics and Professional EthicsUniversal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights

Related Experiment Videos

  • Philosophical inquiry into the value and efficacy of declarations.

    • Main Results:

    • Consensus in universal declarations is often achieved through vagueness or oversimplification.
    • Declarations that take a firm stance tend to reflect the dominant perspective.
    • The inherent problems may limit the practical utility or fairness of these declarations.

    Conclusions:

    • Universal declarations face a fundamental dilemma between inclusivity and meaningful content.
    • The process of creating universal declarations can inadvertently reinforce existing power structures.
    • Further examination is needed to determine if universal declarations can still provide value.