8pgs, APA format
Throughout this unit students will be faced with issues of inequality and human rights, many of which will
lead them to reflect upon aspects of their own lives, attitudes, beliefs, thoughts, morals and behaviours
some of which may be experienced as quite “confronting”. Through this assignment, it is intended for
students to learn to critique their own experiences and preconceived ideas about other people, cultures,
religions and political systems.
Title Define ‘Human Being’ and describe the “meaning” of ‘Being Human’. How may the limitations of such a
definition affect the way human beings treat each other?
Topic
Though the UDHR was written in response to the rather recent atrocities of WWII discussion/debate about
what are appropriate ‘Human Rights’ has an extremely long history in both philosophy and politics.
Fundamentally, ‘Human Rights’ are only conferred upon those who are considered to be
“human” (historically not all people have been considered human), which then has implications for the
treatment of those considered lessthan or otherthan human. This paper has 4 parts:
1. Provide a discursive definition (ie. a definition developed through academic reading and argument that
goes far beyond a simple dictionary definition) of ‘Human Being’ and the “meaning” of ‘Being Human’.
2. Provide reasons and rationales for your defining criteria.
3. Reflect upon the extent to which your “definition” may include/exclude certain people from being
considered human and “assumptions” you held about the “meaning” of ‘Being Human’ at the
commencement of this assignment.
4. Illustrate how a definition of “Human
Being” can affect how others are treated
