What is dignity? Why do humans have dignity?,It is both a research theme that has received much attention in ethics and politics for a long time,Also a problem that ordinary people often encounter in social life。But,It's not easy to answer them。For this,This article tries to the origin of the concept of dignity、Development and its freshmen in contemporary thoughts to sort out and analyze,so as to answer the above questions concise and clear。
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The term "dignity" in Western language mostly comes directly from Latin Dignitas,As Italian Literature Dignità、Spanish masterpiece DIGNIDAD、French work dignité、English as dignity。DIGNUS has "suitable", "commensurate", "dedicated" or "worthy" meaning,-tas is a nouns suffix,Indicates a certain state or nature。So,Dignitas literally,refers to "adaptability", "commensurate" and "matching"。but,Dignitas is only suitable for a very special context,That is, it is always in the association of a certain status in society,and the comparison of people is used,Therefore, the meaning of the word "dignity" in modern Chinese。
Oliver Sensen (Oliver Sensen) pointed out in "Kant on Human Dignity",During the ancient Rome period,Dignitas (DIGNITAS) expresses a higher status in social life (especially political life),and synonymous with "noble" or "noble" in this sense。Not everyone,Instead, only talents who occupy a certain level have dignity。For example,A general、Judge、Director,bet365 best casino games or a veteran of the Senate。People can rely on their origin、credit、Reputation or wealth replace a position,and then have the corresponding dignity。So,Dignity (as a compatibility or dedication) means that one person is worthy of its high position,It comprehensively expresses the bloodline of this person、Ability、virtue or quality,These things make people respectful。This concept of dignity can form a useful comparison with a concept of Aristotle。Gocha AlfredIn Roman SocietyPoint out,Dignitas (Dignitas) has many similarities with the "Megalopsukhia" in "Nigerom Ethics"。
"Great Degree" of Aristotle is naturally not a large degree in the daily significance,but a "quality related to major things","If a person thinks herself very important and tall,It is actually very important and tall,Then he is really generous "。and,Aristotle thinks,True people are not only lucky (noble background、Handle power and waist entanglement),Pay attention to honor、Good、No desire、Have all kinds of virtue。The dignity of the ancient Romans is indeed similar to it: if a person's status is important and tall,He has dignity; he should pay attention to his honor,Affairs according to its noble status。So,Dignity is both noble in status,Because of this moral requirement,But it must first be the noble status。As Sensen,A noble,or a person with dignity,Neither must nor need to be morally worthy of its high position。But,For the ancient Romans,Without status, there is no dignity。
Dignity is still a comparative concept,Because noble is shown in comparison。The higher the status,Higher dignity。For example,The minister's dignity is higher than ordinary Bet365 app download officials,The dignity of the emperor is higher than the minister,God has higher dignity。separation of dignity and social status (political status),and those who have no virtue are considered dignity -that is,,The dignity discussed in the medium and modern literature with virtue as the core connotation -is a more late concept。and,Even this concept of dignity,The significance is also derived from the "higher status"。
Universalization of human dignity
The core connotation of dignity from "higher social status (political status)" to "higher moral quality" is a natural thing,Because in the real world,The separation between status and virtue is inevitable,Compared to someone who has no virtue,People with virtue and no place are even more respectable。But,Only that,Dignity can not be regarded as what all human existences are commonly owned。The prevalence of universal concept of human dignity,Thanks to the development of the Stadia School,and the rise of Christian faith。
Some of the important ideas of the Study School promoted the universalization of dignity。First,Morality is a rational knowledge,Moral life is therefore a rational life。Next,Moral life is emotion、Desire to obey the order of rational rule。Syrlo even thinks,Happy life is shame、Not worth it; instead,Thruster、Cerelery、Simple and sober is the reason that conforms to rational nature。Although these two views can be said to be a consensus of ancient Greece -ancient Roman scholars,But they are particularly prominently advocated in the Stoia School,and have a broad impact on ancient Roman society。again,Everyone is born and gives rationality,Bet365 lotto review and in this sense is equal。Celeca believes,Even if it is a slave,Its nature is also exactly the same as others,Have pride、Honor、Brave and noble quality。Last,Human beings are rational because of their birth (and so moral),Has a status higher than other species in the universe,Therefore, having a dignity。So,Dignity is universal,The concept of comparison between a person,The concept of comparison between rational and irrational existences became。
Christianity absorbs the concept of dignity of the Stoia School,and develop in its theological discourse。First,Christianity introduces the concept of "man is the portrait of God" to explain human rational nature。For example,Elinen (130-202) in Lyon first proposed,Life is rational,and similar to God in this regard。This proposition is not only widely accepted,It was even written into today's "Catholic Teaching"。Next,Reasonable moral knowledge is God's will -All the morals are what God is willing; emotion and desire to obey the order of rationality,It is a good order that God is willing。Although the orthodox Christianity insists on rational understanding, it cannot surpass the sacred reveal,But also emphasized that rationality can understand God’s will,and the guidance of the moral life。So,Where Christianity,Human dignity is the nobleness that people are similar to God because they are rational。As Daliang I (400-461) said,Human dignity is that he is "the division of the sacred nature"。
It is under the influence of the Study School and the medieval Christian beliefs,This concept of general dignity that emphasizes human rationality,It has a profound impact in the bet365 Play online games history of European thought,and under the banner of modern rationalism,In the pursuit of de -de -theologicalization and secularization,Development is more thorough。In the words of modern scholars "secular wisdom",Universal human dignity from a theological requirement of "Everyone in front of God",The secular requirements of "Equality of Everyone in Real Social Life",and make more popular political practice goals based on ethical reflection。
The contemporary change of the concept of dignity
Overall,Modern scholars inherit the above -mentioned high status -based dignity concept,and develop a variety of forms on different paths。For example,Kant emphasized that man as a rational existence that is independent of nature in moral practice,and therefore have a dignity higher than the irrational existence; John Mill also understands dignity as the nobleness of "thoughtful animals",and call people's preference for advanced happiness (rational and moral) as "sense of dignity"。but,This concept of dignity is very different from the dignity in contemporary social life and dignity in political life。
Sense once pointed out,The concept of contemporary dignity is actually popular after the 20th century。Josef Seifrt provides a typical definition,He described human dignity as "an objective and internal value",This value "Apply a moral call from us,and a responsibility to respect it "。Although this definition seems to be similar to that of some expressions in "The foundation of moral metaphysics",and often traces back to Kant,But in fact,It expresses the concept of Moore -style intuitive value realism。That is to say,This dignity is not first、In fact, Bet365 app download it is not understood as a higher status at all,Instead, it is understood as a unique value attribute of life。Contemporary scholars tend to start with the legality of the various political rights of witnesses from this value attribute,This is particularly prominently reflected in the two "The Declaration of Human Rights" in the "German Constitution" and the United Nations,But this approach is not possible in the traditional concept of dignity。
The core difference of the two concepts of dignity is: in traditional concepts,The claim that requires others to respect is derived from the higher status of the subject,At the same time, there are other rights and moral responsibilities of the subject; however,,In contemporary concepts,The claims required to respect others and other rights,All come from the real value attributes of dignity,and cannot introduce the moral requirements of the subject from it。In the traditional dignity concept,There is a preset of a person in the sense of body theory,an ideal person in the universe order,He is regarded as a "should be" development goal of "what is what" in real life。but,In the 19th century,This ontology preset has been huge impact。Cancel the realistic and basic status of the ideal personality of "Should Yes",Human dignity can naturally not be obtained from a higher status。
but,As mentioned earlier,Partially attributed to the secular efforts of modern scholars,and the unique charm of human dignity itself (no matter what it is),It has become a deep popularity in social life and political life.、Even indispensable words。So,The disintegration of traditional concepts does not completely destroy the life of this concept,bet365 best casino games The realism of intuitive value provides it with new vitality。
(Author Unit: Institute of Ethics of the Academy of Social Sciences and "Moral and Civilization Magazine"
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