Thomas Mertens is a specialist on the relationship between law and morality. He has published extensively on human rights, Kant's moral and legal philosophy, the just war tradition and law and morality in Nazi-Germany. He teaches at Radboud University Nijmegen and has also held adjacent positions at Leiden University and Catholic University Leuven.

1. Legal philosophy and human rights; Part I. Backgrounds of the universal declaration; 2. The political and juridical context of the universal declaration; 3. The philosophical context of the universal declaration; 4. Human dignity; 5. Intermezzo I; Part II. Negative freedom: 6. Everyone has the right to life; 7. No one shall be subjected to torture; 8. No one shall be unfairly punished; 9. Everyone has the right to their own space; 10. Everyone has the right to property; Part III. Positive freedom; 11. Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country; 12. Everyone has the right to 'nationality'; 13. Everyone has the right to belong; 14. Everyone has the right to a decent standard of living; 15. Everyone has the right to international legal protection; Part IV. Duties and virtues: 16. Intermezzo II; 17. Everyone has the duty to obedience; 18. Everyone has the duty to behave with moderation.