A System of Rights [Paperback]

The justification of political authority is a long-standing issue of political philosophy, one which persistently defies solution. This book provides an original justification by establishing a framework for dealing with this problem. The model that emerges is one in which certain kinds of political rights are emphasized. Martin discusses the implications of such a system for democratic institutions, political allegiance, punishment, and ultimately for the nature of political authority.

1. On the Logic of Justifying Political Authority
2. The Concept of Rights
3. Rights as Valid Claims
4. Human Rights
5. Civil Rights
6. Democratic Institutions
7. Democracy and Rights
8. Allegiance and the Place of Civil Disobedience
9. Justifying Coercion: The Problem of Punishment
10. Modes of Punishment
11. The Right of Inmates to Work
12. A System of Rights
13. Critical Justification

What makes Martin's book so trenchant is that it can be read with great profit from different points of view....The broad scope and provocative arguments of Martin's work assure that it will be a focal point in philosophically-oriented debate on rights. --Ratio Juris