Antonio PeleHuman Rights: Theory & HistoryUniversidad Carlos III de Madrid2010-11

“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. 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 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

Critics

Ambiguous Anthropocentric Ethnocentric Useless

Ambiguous

Anthropocentric

Deny Dignity to Animals

Peter Singer’s interview – “Animal Liberation”

Ethnocentric

Expanding Circles (Peter Singer)

Conference of S. Pinker: The Myth of Violence

Useless

Ethical issues: euthanasia, cloning, biotechnologies, torture, etc.

Use other concepts instead: autonomy, integrity, respect

Human condition…

Human dignity & Philosophy: A framework

Know yourself (1)

Self-knowledge (gnothi sauton / nosce te ipsum) – The Matrix

M. Foucault, The Hermeneutics of the Subject

“Care of the Self”

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”

Carpe Diem (3)

“Gather the rosebuds while your may,Old time is still flying,And this same flower that smiles todayTomorrow will be dying” (Robert Harrick)

“Seize the Day” : The Dead Poets’ Society

Citizen of the World (4)

Cosmopolitanism & Rejection of social norms

Equality

Justice : “I am human, and every human affair is my concern” (Terentius)

“Homo Homini Sacra Res”

“Man is Sacred Thing for Man” Seneca

Reaction against human degradation Claim Legal metaphor

Human dignity & Philosophy: A framework