What to do with the Other in Human Rights Law? Ethics of Alterity versus Ethics of Care

Abstract

Traditionally, law is well suited for resolving certain kinds of conflicts: for instance, conflicts between the parties to a market transaction or criminal acts where the perpetrator and victim do not know each other. What these conflicts have in common is their reasonably clear-cut nature. It is often clear who is at fault, and only in special cases will the personal traits or circumstances of the parties be taken into account. It is considered both legally correct and ethically reasonable that the party at fault will be liable to pay compensation for breach of contract or that the person intentionally committing a crime will be held responsible. Show more