Human Dignity as a Status vs Human Dignity as a Value. A Double Nature

Abstract

My paper provides an analysis of two antithetical theories about the nature of human dignity: human dignity as a status, human dignity as a value. Strengths of the theories consist in having developed two relevant traits of human dignity, respectively: human dignity as an object of rights, human dignity as a ground of rights. Weaknesses of the theories consist in both having excluded one of the two elements. A third paradigm will be provided, which tries to explain human dignity both as a status and as a value.

Keywords

• human dignity
• status
• value