Could you state what the foggy, grey term "human dignity" means to you?

Question

I mean, come on!

Answer 1

Human Dignity is not a foggy, grey term at all. It is a term that is self-explanatory and intuitive, meaning that we naturally intuit the true meaning simply by being human.

Anyone that tries to define human dignity as an unclear term is trying to undermine human dignity. By saying that it's a grey area, they can convince themselves that degrading or destroying another person's (or group of persons') human dignity is not morally reprehensible. It is someone that wants to cause physical and/or mental/emotional harm to another person and not feel guilty about it. Only by suppressing one's own sense of humanity and morality, can someone do harm to others. The primary tool for this suppression is seeing others as sub-human beings. When one sees another human being or group of human beings, one can act viciously and callously towards them.

A wonderful (if horrific) demonstration of this principle was given in a speech by Barbara Bush in the wake of the Hurrican Katrina catastrophe. After visiting the Astrodome (where people were forced to live and sleep in their own urine and feces with little or no water and food while being cramped in a confined space with thousands of other people), she said that these people (temporary residents of the Astrodome) were underpriviliged people anyway, and that this was probably a "step up for them". She then followed this statement with the real kicker..."these people [either poor or black people...it's unclear which] don't feel pain the same way we do".

This last statement really shows the lack of compassion for people based on a view of some people as sub-human. George W. Bush's recent statements about human dignity being a "grey term" really display the suppression within his own mind of humanity, morality, and conscience. In order to advance his own agenda, Mr. Bush is choosing to attempt to torture confessions out of the prisoners in Guantanamo Bay, since there is only enough evidence to even bring to trial less than 10% of the prisoners being held. By suppressing his own natural morality, he can see fit to bypass both US and international law, as well as numerous treaties (treaties are defined by the Constitution as Law) in order to destroy the basic human rights and dignity of the people randomly rounded up and imprisoned unjustly.

If Mr Bush were to release these innocent people, it would show to the world that he had unjustly imprisoned them, and his whole agenda...possibly his entire regime...would collapse. To avoid this, he wants to torture false confessions out of them in order to appear just in their imprisonment. In his distorted worldview, this is unacceptable.

I believe that all humans know that it is not right to torture or kill other human being without a very just cause. This is the reason for what goes on in Boot Camp for the military. It is neccesary for anyone in the armed service to have this natural tendency suppressed so that they can do their jobs.

What is being done by this administration is wrong, plain and simple. There is no way to justify this without suppressing one's own natural morality and ethics.

Answer 2

Personally I think of the gray area as being an area where it's uncertain whether it is right or wrong. I myself pray about it and study God's word and ask him to reveal what he wants me to do in those types of situations. I also try to lean toward the side of caution. I would rather be sure than unsure. Of course I do think there are a few unnecessary and radical concepts. Such as wearing something over your hair or not cutting your hair if you are a woman...I think that is a bit extreme. If someone is doing this though, I don't think it is wrong but completely unnecessary. EDIT: Gray area among Christians, not gray area with God. God has no gray areas...he obviously knows what is right and what isn't.

Answer 3

If you don't have a concept of human dignity, I guess you have a problem with the idea. However, how about being stacked naked one on top of another and photographed while others take amusement? How about being held like a dog on a leash naked, again while being photographed?

Answer 4

Human dignity is an expression that can be used as a moral concept or as a legal term. Sometimes it means no more than that human beings should not be treated as objects. Beyond this, it is meant to convey an idea of absolute and inherent worth. In Kant's philosophy, the claim is made that rational beings have an intrinsic and absolute value, which is referred to as dignity.

This idea is controversial. Some philosophers attempt to apply this concept to human beings at any stage of development. Other philosophers claim that the whole notion is doubtful as non-human and sub-rational beings can have morally-significant interests (see equal consideration of interests). When the idea is applied to human beings as a species, rather than to rational beings as such, it is sometimes criticised as an example of speciesism.

Another point of view:)

rinciple of Human Dignity

The intrinsic worth that inheres in every human being. From the Catholic perspective (among other Christian perspectives), the source of human dignity is rooted in the concept of Imago Dei, in Christ’s redemption and in our ultimate destiny of union with God. Human dignity therefore transcends any social order as the basis for rights and is neither granted by society nor can it be legitimately violated by society. In this way, human dignity is the conceptual basis for human rights. While providing the foundation for many normative claims, one direct normative implication of human dignity is that every human being should be acknowledged as an inherently valuable member of the human community and as a unique expression of life, with an integrated bodily and spiritual nature. In Catholic moral thought, because there is a social or communal dimension to human dignity itself, persons must be conceived of, not in overly-individualistic terms, but as being inherently connected to the rest of society. Because the tradition emphasizes the integral nature of our body and spirit, the human body takes on greater significance and value than in the prevailing dualistic conception of the person (see the principle of respect for persons).

The normative implications of this conception of human dignity impacts much of Catholic moral thought as it pertains to a range of human life issues, including health care ethics. For example, the principle is foundational for the tradition’s understanding of distributive justice, the common good, the right to life and the right to health care. Other perspectives, both religious and secular, may conceive of human dignity in similar terms with a similar sense of its inherent worth or value and other implications, but may posit different sources for that dignity.

Answer 5

There's a Bushie!

Answer 6

If you have to ask the question, then you can't understand the answer.