The Concept of Human Dignity in Western ThoughtSoraj Hongladarom

Workshop on “Human Dignity” organized by the Philosophy and Religion Society of Thailand (PARST), November 18-19, 2015, Assumption University

What is Dignity?

Dignity●“a way of appearing or behaving that suggests seriousness and self-

control”

●“the quality of being worthy of honor or respect”

●“the quality or state of being worthy, honored, or esteemed”

●Dignity is what separates human beings from animals

●“We must treat the dying (and the dead) with dignity” → with respect and realization that they are like us.

●Since humans have dignity, they must be treated equally and each of them has to be accorded rights.

Why Important?Law: Everyone is entitled to equal legal protection - the concept of

‘rights’ - where does the concept come from?

Ethics: Kant - Kingdom of ends - each person is to never to be treated as mean, but as an end.

Related concepts - dignity, autonomy, respect, rationality in thought and action

Socrates and PlatoThe travel to Delphi - “Who is the wisest among men?” - Talks and

questionings of everyone

Shift of emphasis from the natural world to the moral world, which is human centered - humanism

Only humans can have access to the Forms.

Three forces - pleasure, honor, wisdom

AristotleMan is “rational animal.”

Rationality as defining characteristic, and is a source of dignity.

What is important is that for Aristotle it is the polis (city-state) that is necessary for a complete human being - thus for Aristotle cosmopolitanism, the idea that human beings can flourish across different city-states, is unfounded.

This is in contrast with the Stoic view, as we shall see.

Cynicism and StoicismDiogenes the Cynic: “I am a citizen of the world.” (when asked where

he came from).

“The much admired Republic of Zeno is aimed at this one main point, that we should not organize our daily lives around the city or the deme, divided from one another by local schemes of justice, but we should regard all human beings as our fellow demesmen and fellow citizens, and there should be one way of life and one order, just as a herd that feeds together shares a common nurturance and a common law. Zeno wrote this as a dream or image of a well ordered and philosophical community.” (Plutarch, On the Fortunes of Alexander)

Cicero and Marcus Aurelius“And if this is so, we are all subject to a single law of nature, and if

this is so we are bound not to harm anyone.” (Cicero, De Officiis)

“If reason is common, so too is law; and if this is common, then we are fellow citizens. If this is so, we share in a kind of organized polity. And if that is so, the world is as it were a city-state.” (Marcus, Meditations)

“It makes no difference whether a person lives here or there, provided that, wherever he lives, he lives as a citizen of the world.” (Marcus, Meditations)

ChristianityGreatest source of the idea on dignity

Man is created “in the image of God.”

http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catholic-social-teaching/life-and-dignity-of-the-human-person.cfm

The Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. This belief is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching. In our society, human life is under direct attack from abortion and euthanasia. The value of human life is being threatened by cloning, embryonic stem cell research, and the use of the death penalty. The intentional targeting of civilians in war or terrorist attacks is always wrong. Catholic teaching also calls on us to work to avoid war. Nations must protect the right to life by finding increasingly effective ways to prevent conflicts and resolve them by peaceful means. We believe that every person is precious, that people are more important than things, and that the measure of every institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person.

TraditionThe dignity of the individual and the demands of justice require,

particularly today, that economic choices do not cause disparities in wealth to increase in an excessive and morally unacceptable manner. Charity in Truth (Caritas in Veritate. . . ), #32

Human persons are willed by God; they are imprinted with God's image. Their dignity does not come from the work they do, but from the persons they are. On the Hundredth Year (Centesimus annus. . . ), #11

TraditionThe basis for all that the Church believes about the moral dimensions

of economic life is its vision of the transcendent worth -- the sacredness -- of human beings. The dignity of the human person, realized in community with others, is the criterion against which all aspects of economic life must be measured.

Modern Liberal TraditionKant: Humans have dignity due to the fact that they are rational

beings. -- According to Martha Nussbaum (“Kant and Stoic Cosmopolitanism,” Journal of Political Philosophy 5.1(1997): 1-25), Kant appropriates this view from the Stoics (Cicero, Marcus) -- the idea of human beings belonging to the ‘Kingdom of Ends.’

Basically the tradition follows Kant -- Dignity of humans follow from their rationality in such a way that norms should be cosmopolitan (in contrast to Aristotle) -- in this case they follow ultimately the Stoic ideas (except for communitarians, who largely follow Aristotle).

Dignity in today’s world

The Universal Declaration of Human RightsPreamble

Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

…

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

Article 1All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 22Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.

Article 23(3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.

UNESCO Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights

Recognizing that ethical issues raised by the rapid advances in science and their technological applications should be examined with due respect to the dignity of the human person and universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms, …

Recognizing that, based on the freedom of science and research, scientific and technological developments have been, and can be, of great benefit to humankind … , and emphasizing that such developments should always seek to promote the welfare of individuals, families, groups or communities and humankind as a whole in the recognition of the dignity of the human person and universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms,

UNESCO DeclarationArticle 2 – Aims

The aims of this Declaration are:

(c) to promote respect for human dignity and protect human rights, by ensuring respect for the life of human beings, and fundamental freedoms, consistent with international human rights law;

UNESCO Declaration(d) to recognize the importance of freedom of scientific research and the benefits derived from scientific and technological developments, while stressing the need for such research and developments to occur within the framework of ethical principles set out in this Declaration and to respect human dignity, human rights and fundamental freedoms;

Article 3Human dignity and human rights

1. Human dignity, human rights and fundamental freedoms are to be fully respected.

2. The interests and welfare of the individual should have priority over the sole interest of science or society.

Article 10 -- Equality, Justice and EquityThe fundamental equality of all human beings in dignity and rights is to be respected so that they are treated justly and equitably.

Article 11 -- Non-discrimination and non-stigmatizationNo individual or group should be discriminated against or stigmatized on any grounds, in violation of human dignity, human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Article 12 -- Respect for Cultural Diversity and PluralismThe importance of cultural diversity and pluralism should be given due regard. However, such considerations are not to be invoked to infringe upon human dignity, human rights and fundamental freedoms, nor upon the principles set out in this Declaration, nor to limit their scope.

Article 28Denial of acts contrary to human rights, fundamental freedoms and human dignity

Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any claim to engage in any activity or to perform any act contrary to human rights, fundamental freedoms and human dignity.

However,

Ruth Macklin’s Critique of the Use of “Dignity”