History Of Human Rights Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

History Of Human Rights - Essay Example Westminster School and at the age of twelve was sent off to Oxford (Queen's College). From 1763, he studied law at Lincoln's Inn and was called to the bar in 1772. Jeremy Bentham was an English philosopher and political radical. Although he never practiced law, he spent most of his life critiquing the existing law and strongly advocating legal reform. Bentham is primarily known today for his moral philosophy, especially his principle of utilitarianism which evaluates actions based upon their consequences, in particular the overall happiness created for everyone affected by the action. He maintained that putting this principle into consistent practice would provide justification for social, political, and legal institutions. Although Bentham's influence was minor during his life, his impact was greater in later years as his ideas were carried on by followers such as John Stuart Mill, John Austin, and other consequentialists.During 1776, Bentham brought out his first major work, A Frag ment on Government.3 It was about this time, too, that Bentham was to become a friend with a powerful lord, Lord Shelburne (1737-1805). Apparently, through the auspices of Lord Shelburne, Bentham was able to take time, to travel and to write. He [Bentham] has lived for the last f... His eye is quick and lively; but it glances not from object to object, but from thought to thought. He is evidently a man occupied with some train of fine and inward association. He regards the people about him no more than the flies of summer. He meditates the coming age. He hears and sees only what suits his purpose, or some 'foregone conclusion'; and looks out for facts and passing occurrences in order to put them into his logical machinery and grind them into the dust and powder of some subtle theory, as the miller looks out for grist to his mill!" (William Hazlitt.) Bentham's Philosophy Jeremy Bentham figured that laws should be socially useful and not merely reflect the status quo; and, that while he believed that men inevitably pursue pleasure and avoid pain, Bentham thought it to be a "sacred truth" that "the greatest happiness of the greatest number is the foundation of morals and legislation." Bentham supposed that the whole of morality could be derived from "enlightened self-interest," and that a person who always acted with a view to his own maximum satisfaction in the long run would always act rightly. Bentham is to be compared to William Godwin: they resembled one another in their "blind contempt for the past." While each preached the need for nonviolent revolution, each had a different following. Bentham's revolution was to be effected by legislation, Godwin's by argument. French Revolution:- The French Revolution (1789-1799) was a pivotal period in the history of French, European and Western civilization. During this time, republicanism replaced the absolute monarchy in France, and the country's Roman Catholic Church was forced to undergo a radical restructuring. While France would oscillate among republic, empire, and

Privacy and Surveillance in the Digital Age Movie Review

Privacy and Surveillance in the Digital Age - Movie Review Example The story then enters its crucial phase when the system predicts that Anderton will future murderer of Leo Crow; the person whom Anderton did not know. The epic then revolves around the attempts made by Anderton to escape from FBI and his fellow agents. He then successfully approached one of the psychics and is assisted by the program manager; through investigation he realises that the program developer has left a control under him to design and manipulate the future. High-tech surveillance is the real entertainment offered by director Tony Scott in his movie Enemy of State. The movie has focused upon application of the technological gadgets and software to trace and monitor the daily electronic communication of the American citizens to prevent terrorism. A bill titled Telecommunications Security and Privacy Act was sent to legislation for approval, however the bill was ostensibly rejected by Congressman, the legislator was then shot dead by National Security Agency, however the footage of the Congressman murder was recorded by photographer. The photographer is then traced while he was exchanging this information through telephone; he was then traced however he managed to protect the evidence from the National Security Department. The evidence landed in the shopping bag of the lawyer Dean. The epic moves around the attempts by National Security Agency officials to retrieve the evidence from the lawyer Dean; who is equally innovative and cautious about his security and has bugs installed at his place. Referring to the Minority Report, the access to future is acceptable, and carrying out attacks on the individuals based upon their future sins is arguable. The prosecutor was executed and justice is delivered after the crime, however in this epic the justice is delivered prior to the occurrence of the crime. The extent of the involvement of the security agencies in the personal life of the individuals only for the sake of National Security is not encouraging. At the end of the movie, it is concluded that the programming was corrupted by the developer; such loopholes in the system further aggravate the situation, and develop reluctance among the masses to accept the change. (Discussion) I believe that if the criminals are executed based upon the information from future-teller; then it is essential that such system shall be error-proof. I understand that the security of the country is essential but the influence of the technology shall never be to an extent that it restricts and controls the liberty and freedom of the individual citizen. With reference to the movie Enemy of the State; the importance of the intelligence information to prevent and identify the terrorists and criminals from the society cannot be ruled out, but if the same intelligence is being used to monitor and control the people who are opposed to such intelligence monitoring system then this is erroneous. The photographer was traced through the intelligence monitoring system; however the person carried no terrorism-related affiliation. (Discussion) I personally believe that it is inappropriate application of the intelligence system which can harm the society. The intrusion and violation of the privacy is an offence, even if this is being done to prevent terrorism. I firmly believe that the lawmakers and intelligence agencies have to mutually define limits for the