

Human Rights and Human Dignity
Ages 12-14 (10:30-11:45 AM) Instructor: Justin Nordin
Service Description
* This class will only meet for 13 weeks. No class February 23rd. The U.S. Declaration of Independence states “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” This phrase is so central to our national identity and legal institutions that we probably never even stop to think about it. But how did the idea that humans possess rights simply by being human come to be? What is it about being human that gives us rights? Did other civilizations and cultures also think of rights this way? In this class, we will examine the historical development of our modern understanding of human rights and human dignity. Beginning with the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, we will look at the conceptual link between the ideas of human rights and human dignity. We will then travel back in time and trace the development of these ideas through history, beginning in Ancient Babylon and moving through Ancient Greece and Rome. After that we will look at some of the major development of the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Enlightenment that lead up to the ideals expressed in the U.S. Declaration of Independence and then eventually in the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights. We will then finish the semester by looking at the various ways in which rights are talked about today, particularly in media. Students will come out of this class with a strong sense of the historical context within which ideas and legal systems emerge and develop, an understanding of the major political developments in Western history, and a philosophical understanding of the conceptual link between human rights, dignity, and justice in the Western world.




Cancellation Policy
We keep our classes small to enhance learning outcomes. Because of this, it is important that our classes are filled up with students that are committed to the class. If you have questions about a class, please contact us prior to signing up to make sure the class will meet your expectations. Classes can ONLY be dropped within the first two weeks of the semester. There is a $65 fee if dropped within the first week of class. There is an $80 fee if dropped within the second week of class. The remaining balance after dropping will be refunded. Classes CANNOT be dropped after the second week of scheduled classes. After the second week of scheduled classes no refund will be given. To drop a class please email iphglearning@gmail.com IPHG reserves the right to cancel any class. In the event IPHG cancels class is canceled before beginning, a credit to be applied for future semesters will be given. Credit will be for the value of the canceled class.
Contact Details
4057 N Harding Ave, Chicago, IL, USA