# When was the idea of human rights invented, and do we need it?

- Institution: Gresham College
- Taught by: The Rt Hon Sir Stephen Sedley, Professor Richard Sorabji FBA
- Year: 2002
- Level: For everyone
- Language: English
- Subjects: History, Philosophy
- Source: [Gresham College](https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/when-was-idea-human-rights-invented-and-do-we-need-it)
- Licence: [Educational use (Gresham College's terms)](https://www.gresham.ac.uk/terms-and-conditions)
- Who can watch: Teens profiles and older (sources give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the source's own words)

Were the inventors the ancient Stoics, the Roman lawyers, the 17th century Dutch, the authors of the American Revolution? Can there be universal justice without such an idea, and what does it add?

## Lectures

1. [When was the idea of human rights invented, and do we need it?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/gresham/when-was-idea-human-rights-invented-and-do-we-need-it/c56a07939024) (YouTube)