Introduction
This chapter outlines the main conceptual and substantive contributions of this book, and provides an overview of the three parts composing it. A characterization of the concept of human rights is offered. The eight components of the dignitarian approach to human rights developed in the rest of the book are outlined. They comprise: (C1) an account of human dignity; (C2) the ideal of solidaristic empowerment; (C3) a distinction between abstract and specific human rights and a division of three dimensions of a conception of human rights; (C4) an account of feasibility; (C5) general and dignitarian schemas for justifying rights; (C6) a contractualist framework of reasoning for justifying rights; (C7) the method of deliberative reflective equilibrium; and (C8) the idea of a deliberative interpretive proposal. Finally, the practical significance of the idea of putting humanity first—which follows naturally from the dignitarian approach—is identified.