Although many people have been credited with being the first to ever propose what could be considered a declaration of human rights, the first person to ever write one down was Voltaire.
The French philosopher, Voltaire, wrote the first declaration of human rights in 1764. It was included in his book, “Philosophical Dictionary”, and its message was that all men are born free and equal. He believed that these rights should be protected by the government and stated that everyone has a right to life, liberty, and property. The philosopher, also believed that everyone has a right to freedom of speech and freedom of religion.
Voltaire’s declaration of human rights was influential in the development of the French Revolution. It influenced the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, which was made in 1789. The two documents are very similar because both declare that equality is central to being human. Both documents also emphasize individual rights rather than collective rights. However, Voltaire’s declaration includes freedoms such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom from slavery. These are not mentioned in the French Declaration.
This attitude towards human rights remains relevant today as we consider issues like capital punishment, prisoners’ rights and euthanasia.
