There is something rather incongruous about the idea of inalienable human rights coming to the fore in the late 20th century. Sociologically, it is quite understandable: this is the age of the me-generation, and the weak, as Nietzsche saw, ever claim in the name of "justice" what they cannot seize by force. Philosophically, though, it is rather embarassing. Not that the idea of human rights is not notable, inspirational and generally righteous altogether: it is all of that. However, it is also badly out of step with Western philosophical development over the past two centuries.