Title: A human right to music - an ethical justification

Authors: Peter G. Kirchschlaeger

Addresses: Faculty of Theology, Institute of Social Ethics ISE, University of Lucerne, Frohburgstrasse 3, Postfach 4466, CH-6002 Lucerne, Switzerland

Abstract: In this article, the human right to music will be introduced as 'bundled human right' that is constituted by numerous human rights including, among others: the right to freedom of expression; the right to culture; the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; the rights of minorities and indigenous peoples; and the right to self-determination. Furthermore, it will be examined if the 'bundled human right to music' can be ethically justified. While examining the possibility of justification of the human right to music, the focus will be on the elements and spheres of music relevant to the areas protected by the specific human rights flowing into the human right to music. An ethical justification could provide the conceptual basis for a possible political opinion-forming and decision-making process potentially leading to a legal human right to music.

Keywords: human rights; music; human rights and music; bundled human right to music; ethics; ethical justification; universality; vulnerability; principle of vulnerability; legal human right.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHRCS.2021.117957

International Journal of Human Rights and Constitutional Studies, 2021 Vol.8 No.4, pp.284 - 297

Received: 08 May 2020
Accepted: 13 Nov 2020
Published online: 05 Oct 2021 *

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