ScholarOne - The Right to Live or to Live Well? Refugees' Quest for
Entitlement. A Reflection through Aristotle's and Arendt's Lenses.
Abstract
The term “life” is undoubtedly a concept that legislators can no
longer fail to understand in present times, certainly with a burning
migration crisis at the forefront. The present study explores the
intrinsic relationship between the concepts of “life” and “rights”
through the lens of ancient philosophy, in particular from Aristotle’
seminal writing. The distinction between “Bios” and “Zoe”, as
recognized by the latter, is analyzed and reconsidered in contemporary
contexts, specifically within the framework of modern human rights and
the challenges posed by the global migration crisis. Challenging thereby
the philosopher Agamben, who maintains a dichotomy between the
biological and the political body - albeit blurred by his conception of
“naked life”, the study argues for a more nuanced interpretation of
Aristotle’s oeuvre, which allows for the recognition of a complementary
- if not inseparable - connection between biological life and political
existence. Through a further interlacing with Hannah Arendt’s concept of
“The right to have rights”, the article aims to apply this framework
to the situation of refugees, emphasizing the intertwined nature of life
and political recognition. In a forward-looking perspective, it is hoped
to raise reflexive stances on the contemporary right to life, whose
complete comprehending hinges on recognizing its innate political
dimension.