Suffering

• What kinds of suffering are part of world history?

• Why is there suffering?

• There ARE reasons.

Suffering

What is suffering?

• Think only of human suffering.

• Think of large events that affect many people.

Suffering

Some types of suffering:

Suffering

Suffering depends on perspective.

Mom is so mean. She took the TV out of my bedroom

and I don’t even have an iPod that plays movies.

That’s suffering!

Suffering can bemeasuredon a spectrum.

• Color Spectrum:

Suffering

Suffering can bemeasured on a spectrum.

• Suffering Spectrum:

Not a billionaire

Mow your own lawn

Genocide Slavery Homeless

More Suffering Less Suffering

Suffering

Do we really want to end all suffering?

Suffering

Why do westudy suffering?

• In order to reduce the suffering in the world, we must understand WHY suffering happens.

Suffering

• If we understand WHY, maybe we can find a better way.

Part 1: Human Rights

• Your goal:

Be able to describe human rights and the origins of these ideals.

What are Human Rights?

• Human rights are basic rights and freedoms that all people are entitled to regardless of nationality, sex, national or ethnic origin, race, religion, language, or other status.

What are Human Rights?

• Civil rights, political rights,

• Social, economic

• Life, liberty

• Freedom of expression

• Right to food, right to work,

• Right to education

Origins of Human Rights

• Where did the idea come from?

– Religion

– Enlightenment

Religious Influence

• Judaism

• Jewish law taught morality

– Fight injustice

– Fight oppression

– Help the less fortunate

Religious Influence

• Christianity

• Jesus taught acceptance

– Fight inequality

– Fight slavery

Religious Influence

• Islam

• Mohammed taught individual worth

– Individuals are valuable

– People should be tolerant of different groups

Enlightenment

• mid-1700s

• Period of new ideas about science and art and government.

Enlightenment Thinkers

John Locke

• All people are born free and equal

• Natural rights

– Life

– Liberty

– Property

Enlightenment Thinkers

Voltaire

• Tolerance of others

• Freedom of religion

• Freedom of speech

Rights-Based Documents

• Magna Carta (England)

– Right to due process of law

• English Bill of Rights (England)

– Freedom of speech

• Declaration of Independence (USA)

– Life, liberty and pursuit of happiness

Rights-Based Documents

• US Bill of Rights (USA)

– Freedom of speech, assembly, press and religion

• Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen (France)

– Equality, liberty, property, security, no oppression