Epistemology of Human Rights: Approach from Police Science

Abstract

The objective of this presentation is to propose how human rights constitute an epistemological nucleus of convergence between science, morality and politics. Beyond the difficulties for its implementation and the incessant conflicts, the Declaration of 1948 is maintained and projected even in the 21st century as a paradigmatic reference to base and legitimize the governmental action of the rule of law. In the case of police science (understood as state science), and specifically in relation to police activity (scientific and general), the assumption is that scientific criteria guarantee-or can guarantee-respect, protection and promotion of those rights. Meanwhile, scientific and technological advances seem to overcome or avoid the political and moral problems of a human society in crisis and in permanent alteration. And, in this same sense, science is not necessarily a guarantor of rights, but also a field of knowledge to rethink, for example, concepts such as freedom, life, justice and public security, among others. In this context, how are science, morals and politics articulated from an epistemology of human rights? The hypothesis of this question considers that the State-through the scientific police activity-must ana-lyze the different epistemological paradigms of knowledge and their relationship with DH. Such paradigms determine (and will determine) the new interpretations about the foundations and characteristics of DH in the present century, at the same time that they challenge (and will challenge) the legal-social order where science, morality and politics converge conflictively.