Which document is commonly linked to the rights of Man in the context of neoclassical discourse?

• A. Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
• B. Magna Carta
• C. U.S. Constitution
• D. Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Answer: (A)

In neoclassical discourse, the idea is that political legitimacy rests on universal, rational rights grounded in natural law and civic virtue. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen embodies this stance by asserting that men are born free and equal in rights and by outlining fundamental liberties such as liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression. Its emphasis on universal and inalienable rights aligns with the neoclassical project of reasoned governance and humane civic order, making it the document most closely tied to the rights of Man in this context.

The Magna Carta is a medieval precursor that limited royal power, not framed in the modern rights language of the Enlightenment. The U.S. Constitution focuses on structure and governance rather than universal rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights belongs to the 20th century and reflects modern international law rather than neoclassical discourse.