인권과 사회생물학

Abstract

This article is to analyze basic issues of human rights from perspective of sociobiology. Edward Wilson defines sociobiology as “the systematic study of the biological basis of all social behavior.” The sociobiological view is that all animal social behavior including humans’ is governed by epigenetic rules worked out by the laws of evolution. Sociobiologists define human nature as a collection of epigenetic rules, the genetic patterns of mental development. They argue that culture and rituals are products, not parts, of human nature. By taking into account sociobiology, the author endeavors to find biological basis in origins of human rights, universality of human rights, homosexual activity and patrilineal family system. Another purpose of this article is to adopt perspective of consilience, unity of knowledge in human rights law that Wilson has proposed. The consilience is to describe the synthesis of knowledge from different specialized fields of human endeavor. Thus, this article presents new approach as the unity of science and law. Although sociobiological views have been vehemently opposed, they should be considered as very strong basis of human rights.