(PDF) (DOC) (JPG)November 3, 2011

(MAHWAH, NJ) – Samuel Moyn, Professor of History at Columbia University, spoke at Ramapo College of New Jersey on Thursday, November 3 under the auspices of the Gross Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, the History Club, and the Human Rights and Genocide Studies Minor of Ramapo College. Prior to the talk The Ramapo College Foundation sponsored a lunch with Professor Moyn for members of the Alumni Association and Friends of Ramapo College.

Moyn discussed his recent book, The Last Utopia: Human Rights in History, which traces the genesis of the ideal of human rights and how it has become a motivating force on the world stage.

The presentation delved into the ideal’s troubled present as well as its uncertain future, especially in light of the ongoing events associated with the “Arab Spring.” While tracing the development of the ideal back to the ancient Greeks and through the Renaissance to the American and French Revolutions, he depicted how Human Rights actually became a motivating force on the world stage from the late seventies, supplanting revolutionary communism and nationalism, and becoming a viable alternative to popular struggle and bloody violence.

A lively discussion followed the talk in which students and faculty commented on the importance of grass roots movements in Latin America, the role of President Jimmy Carter and the changing nature of the Cold War as factors influencing the development of a consensus around Human Rights.

Sam Moyn holds an A.B. from Washington University in St. Louis (1994), a Ph.D. from University of California at Berkeley (2000), and a J.D. from Harvard Law School (2001). His studies include modern European intellectual history, political and legal thought, mathematical and critical theory and Jewish studies.
In addition to numerous essays and reviews, Samuel Moyn is the author of several previous books, including: A Holocaust Controversy: The Treblinka Affair in Postwar France (Brandeis, 2005) and Origins of the Other: Emmanuel Levinas Between Revelation and Ethics (Cornell, 2007).

(Left to Right) Dr. Michael A. Riff, Director of the Gross Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies & Dr. Samuel Moyn, Professor of History at Columbia University

Professor Samuel Moyn

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