Vulnerability

This entry provides an overview of the so-called ‘vulnerability turn’ in the fields of political philosophy and legal theory. It begins with a definition of the term ‘vulnerability’; it examines the two distinct approaches of group vulnerability and ontological vulnerability, and outlines the criticisms levelled at each. A proposal is put forward for reconciling the two approaches in relation to different contexts. It accounts for the resort to vulnerability in the field of human rights. An understanding of vulnerability as a hermeneutic lens underpinning the application of rights and their underlying principles is argued for. Finally, some open issues that arise when the notion of vulnerability is being operationalized in the field of human rights are underlined.