“Bone of their Bone: Abolishing Torture,” Inventing Human Rights by Lynn Hunt critiquing the origins of human rights

Human Rights, as it is known today, are universal and fundamental freedoms every human being living on this planet is meant to own and exercise any and everywhere. The UN charter of the universal declaration of human rights formally writes out these rights ranging from the right to education and healthcare to freedom of religion and expression, that is meant to safeguard citizens of the world from immoral governmental practices that may infringe upon their overall livelihoods. 

Lynn Hunt, author of “Bone of their Bone: Abolishing Torture,” Inventing Human Rights introduces the first connotation of Human Rights from the Rights of Man in 18th century France at the peak of the nation's reliance on torture as a means of due process. 

During that time torture was used not only as a punishment for severe to petty crimes but also as an interrogation method such as"breaking on the wheel, reserved to men convicted homicide or highway robbery," The body of man was conceived more as a mere vessel housing either a damaged or perfect soul. Therefore the pain inflicted on bodies was not seen as infliction on a human body but a pain to a container holding an evil being. It wasn't until later that an entirely new perception of the human body was realized. A new understanding of sentiment, empathy for another human being; a flesh and soul that feels pain created a distinction between man and human. Inner life and purpose and the malleability of souls from immoral to moral transcended torture to discipline.

This new way of thinking revolutionized Europe, however, this is where it stopped. All while Europe was defining the rights of man, work, property, and speech, and beliefs as diversified souls with meaning, they were colonizing and exploiting men in other parts of the world. It essentially nullifies their "enlightenment" because these newfound rights of man did not apply to all mankind. It should then be questioned how universal are the human rights of the UN charter if their historical origins were far from inclusive/universal. This goes to show how laws and rights vary wildly throughout the world and apply to few. As breakthroughs in human thought and life are made it is important to ask whether or not this a breakthrough for mankind, as it may seem, or only for a select group that has the power to decide if they want to extend their ideas to the rest.