Human Dignity and Human Rights

2266 Words10 Pages
Human dignity WHAT IS HUMAN DIGNITY? The status of human beings entitling them to respect. It refers to their highest value, or to the fact that they are a presupposition for value, as they are those to whom value makes sense. The idea of human dignity embraces an experience of recognition, and the principle of human dignity is the affirmation that the experience is possible in relation to all human beings. FOUR STAGES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN DIGNITY Each depends on a time-typical framework and exemplifies a logical possibility. 1. Cosmo-centric framework of Antiquity, which explains human dignity on the basis of nature. Human beings are thought to have fundamental value because they have dominion (over their passions, their households or over the brute beasts) 2. Christo-centric framework which explains human dignity in relation to Jesus Christ. Human beings are thought to have fundamental value because they are made in the image and likeness of God and therefore reflect the creator-God in whom all things have their being and value. 3. Logo-centric framework of Modernity, which explains human dignity as a tribute to reason. Human beings have dignity because they are capable of understanding the implications of the ‘universalizability’ of any of the maxims of their actions. 4. Polis-centred framework of Post-Modernity, which explains human dignity in relation to social acceptability. It was the result of the political experience of ‘reason’ being used ideologically by those in power, to make assumptions as to who was to be accounted reasonable. It was born in rejection of this point of view. Dignity of Human being is an essential concept in the society as well as in the morality, because through it the quality and honour of the people can be determined, and from the sense of dignity the concept of Human rights can also be measured.
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