Clare Hall Ashby Lecture 2015 - Albie Sachs

Duration: 1 hour 12 mins

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Description:	Liberty, Equality. What Happened to Fraternity [Human Solidarity]?


Created:	2015-08-13 15:16
Collection:	ASHBY LECTURES - CLARE HALL
Publisher:	University of Cambridge
Copyright:	S. Hainsworth
Language:	eng (English)
Keywords:	Clare Hall; Ashby lecture; Albie Sachs;


Abstract:	Liberty, Equality. What Happened to Fraternity [Human Solidarity]? What did a deeply Catholic family-oriented French-speaking judge on the Canadian Supreme Court and a firmly secular English-speaking 'product of the Enlightenment' Justice of the South African Constitutional Court have in common? A profound belief in the importance of fraternity [human solidarity] to complete the constitutional triad of liberty and equality. In South Africa the theme of Ubuntu has played a significant role in shaping understanding of what is meant by fundamental human rights. An important part of African philosophy, its basic thesis is that I am a person because you are a person - so that acknowledging our interdependence strengthens rather than weakens our individual autonomy. Albie Sachs drew on his experience on the Constitutional Court of South Africa in cases ranging from capital punishment, to eviction to defamation to illustrate the manner in which the dignitarian approach of Ubuntu has enriched understanding of basic human rights. The lecture this year took place on Monday the 6th July at Clare College's Riley Auditorium.

Abstract:

Liberty, Equality. What Happened to Fraternity [Human Solidarity]?

What did a deeply Catholic family-oriented French-speaking judge on the Canadian Supreme Court and a firmly secular English-speaking 'product of the Enlightenment' Justice of the South African Constitutional Court have in common?

A profound belief in the importance of fraternity [human solidarity] to complete the constitutional triad of liberty and equality. In South Africa the theme of Ubuntu has played a significant role in shaping understanding of what is meant by fundamental human rights. An important part of African philosophy, its basic thesis is that I am a person because you are a person - so that acknowledging our interdependence strengthens rather than weakens our individual autonomy.

Albie Sachs drew on his experience on the Constitutional Court of South Africa in cases ranging from capital punishment, to eviction to defamation to illustrate the manner in which the dignitarian approach of Ubuntu has enriched understanding of basic human rights.

The lecture this year took place on Monday the 6th July at Clare College's Riley Auditorium.

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