This collection of legal opinions gives an account of Judge Bostjan Zupancic's views regarding human rights. The 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 also participated. This is a companion volume to the author's The Owl of Minerva. 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, Judge Zupancic shares his thoughts about human rights and the role it plays in society.