UNDERStANDING HUMAN DIGNITY -REDUX Antonio Pele Carlos III University of Madrid LUMEN CONFERENCE -2012

“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” (Preamble)

“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights “All 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” (Art.1) “Conscience” : “Liang Xin” (Chang Pengchun)

CHARTER OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION “Conscious of its spiritual and moral heritage, the Union is founded on the indivisible, universal values of human dignity, freedom, equality and solidarity (…)” (Preamble)

Chapter I. “Dignity” Art. 1: “Human dignity is inviolable. It must be respected and protected”

Human Dignity (art.1.) Right to life (art.2) Right to the integrity of the person (art.3) Prohibition of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (art.4) Prohibition of slavery and forced labour (art.5)

Romania is a democratic and social state, governed by the rule of law, in which human dignity, the citizens' rights and freedoms, the free development of human personality, justice and political pluralism represent supreme values …(art. 1.3)

“Human dignity shall be inviolable “Human dignity shall be inviolable. To respect and protect it shall be the duty of all state authority” (art. 1.1)

“The dignity of the person, the inviolable rights which are inherent, the free development of the personality, the respect for the law and for the rights of others are the foundation of political order and social peace” (art. 10.1)

Definition of Human Dignity “Intrinsic and Absolute value of All Human Beings”

Renaissance / Humanism: “Dignitas hominis” v. “miseria hominis”

“Oration on the Dignity of Man” (1486)

Discourse of human dignity Excelence of Human Nature Superior to Animals Human Dignity

Non stop grounding … Human Rights Human dignity Human nature Human Features: Reason, etc. Shortage & Utility Value

Critics Ambiguous Anthropocentric Ethnocentric Useless

Ambiguous Descriptive (human nature) Prescriptive (value/respect)

Anthropocentric Deny Dignity to animals “Expanding Circle” (Peter Singer)

Ethnocentric Real universalism of human dignity? Human rights as the ideological base of capitalism? Recognition of same common value : empathy

Useless Ethical issues: euthanasia, cloning, biotechnologies, torture, etc. Use other concepts instead: autonomy, integrity, respect ?

Human condition

Human dignity & Philosophy: A framework Know yourself

Know yourself (1) Self-knowledge (gnothi sauton / nosce te ipsum) – The Matrix M. Foucault, The Hermeneutics of the Subject “Care of the Self”

Know yourself/ care of the self Sapere Aude

Sapere Aude (2) “Enlightenment is Man’s emergence from self- imposed tutelage, that is to say, from the inability to use the intellect without guidance by another. It is self-imposed if its cause does not lie in a deficiency of the intellect but of the courage and determination to use it autonomously. Sapere aude! Have the courage to think! is therefore the motto of the Enlightenment”

Know yourself/ care of the self Sapere Aude Carpe Diem

Carpe Diem (3) “Gather the rosebuds while your may, Old time is still flying, And this same flower that smiles today Tomorrow will be dying” (Robert Harrick) “Seize the Day” : The Dead Poets’ Society

Know yourself/ care of the self Sapere Aude Carpe Diem Citizen of the world

Citizen of the World (4) Cosmopolitanism & Rejection of social norms Equality Justice : “I am human, and every human affair is my concern” (Terentius)

Know yourself/ care of the self Sapere Aude Carpe Diem Citizen of the world Homo homini sacra res

“Homo Homini Sacra Res” “Man is Sacred Thing for Man” Seneca Reaction against human degradation Claim Legal metaphor

Human dignity & Philosophy: A framework Know yourself/ care of the self Sapere Aude Carpe Diem Citizen of the world Homo homini sacra res

antonio.pele@uc3m.es @duendeaude