The book is a contribution to the study of values as they affect both ourpersonal and our public life. It defends the view that values are necessarilyuniversal ... » 

The book is a contribution to the study of values as they affect both ourpersonal and our public life. It defends the view that values are necessarilyuniversal on the ground that that is a condition of their intelligibility. Itdoes however reject most common conceptions of universality like thoseembodied in the writings on human rights. It aims to reconcile the universalityof value with a the social dependence of value and b the centrality to ourlife of deep attachments to people and countries alike. Building from therethe book explores personal love the value of life and the fundamental duty ofrespect for people. «