This book covers Judge Zupancic 's individual separate opinions, including those joined by other judges, plus the joint opinions of several judges in which Judge Zupancic participated. The collection gives an account of Judge Zupancic 's views regarding human rights. This is a companion volume to the author's The Owl of Minerva, published in 2007.The title of the book is taken from Hegel and refers to the idea that philosophy cannot be prescriptive because it understands only in hindsight. The same holds true for conceptions of human rights. Based on his many years of experience in the field, the author shares his thoughts about human rights and the role it plays in society.