Rights Talk by Mary Ann Glendon
- 1. In her compelling work 'Rights Talk,' Mary Ann Glendon explores the intricate interplay between the concept of rights and the practice of democracy, emphasizing the cultural and historical contexts that shape our understanding of individual rights. Glendon critiques the modern tendency to prioritize a universalized notion of rights while disregarding the community-based traditions that have long informed the concept of justice and moral responsibility. Through her careful analysis, she highlights the importance of dialogue and the necessity of grounding rights in societal values, urging us to look beyond a purely individualistic framework. By drawing upon examples from various legal traditions and the philosophical underpinnings of rights discourse, Glendon encourages a more nuanced approach to rights that seeks to balance personal freedoms with communal obligations, ultimately advocating for a more holistic view of human dignity that recognizes the interconnectedness of individuals within their social contexts.
What is the primary subject of Mary Ann Glendon's critique in 'Rights Talk'?
A) The excessive individualism in American rights discourse
B) The lack of constitutional rights in the United States
C) The economic cost of enforcing civil rights
D) The history of human rights in Europe
- 2. What does Glendon argue is neglected in the American 'rights talk'?
A) Social responsibilities and civic virtues
B) Freedom of speech
C) Judicial review
D) Property rights
- 3. Glendon suggests that the absolutist quality of American rights talk makes it difficult to do what?
A) Amend the Constitution
B) Conduct international diplomacy
C) Balance competing rights and interests
D) Elect political leaders
- 4. What is a key characteristic Glendon attributes to the European approach to rights?
A) Reliance on judicial supremacy
B) Emphasis on duties and community
C) Focus on absolute individual liberty
D) Rejection of social welfare rights
- 5. Glendon is critical of the tendency to frame all desires and needs as what?
A) Rights
B) Responsibilities
C) Privileges
D) Luxuries
- 6. What does Glendon believe is a consequence of the 'lonely rights-bearer' mentality?
A) Erosion of social bonds
B) Greater economic equality
C) Increased voter turnout
D) Stronger family units
- 7. What historical document does Glendon point to as having a richer language of responsibility than the U.S. Bill of Rights?
A) The French Declaration of the Rights of Man
B) The Code of Hammurabi
C) The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
D) The Magna Carta
- 8. What does Glendon propose as an alternative or supplement to the current rights talk?
A) A language of responsibility and community
B) A focus on international law
C) A return to religious doctrine
D) A purely economic language of cost-benefit
- 9. Glendon's work is best described as a critique from which perspective?
A) Communitarian
B) Libertarian
C) Marxist
D) Postmodernist
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