Humanity with Dignity. Plea For a Functional Theory of Dignity

Abstract

In this paper, I present a functional theory of dignity which seeks to withstand the criticism of the concept of dignity, such those made by Andrea Sangiovanni, by arguing that there is more to dignity than these authors may ascribe. The functional theory of dignity is a reinterpretation of the notion of dignity in legal documents such as the UDHR, and calls for the protection of a dignified life for all human beings. The features of this concept of dignity follow from the historical function it has. A dignified life is a life free from hardship. We derive the need for its protection by remembering the reasons for the implementation of dignity in legal human rights documents – the negation of the atrocities in the Holocaust.