Perspectives on Human Dignity: A Conversation

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xi

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2. The Concept of Human Dignity

   1. Introduction to a Conversation

      • Jeff Malpas, Norelle Lickiss

      Pages 1-5

   2. Human Dignity and Human Worth

      • Daniel P. Sulmasy

      Pages 9-18

   3. Human Dignity and Human Being

      • Jeff Malpas, Norelle Lickiss

      Pages 19-25

   4. On Human Dignity: Fragments of an Exploration

      • Norelle Lickiss

      Pages 27-41

   5. Two Conceptions of Dignity: Honour and Self-Determination

      • Andrew Brennan, Y. S. Lo

      Pages 43-58

   6. Human Dignity and Charity

      • Rosalind Hursthouse

      Pages 59-72

   7. Human Dignity: Functions and Meanings

      • Doron Shultziner

      Pages 73-92

   8. A Brief History of Human Dignity: Idea and Application

      • Milton Lewis

      Pages 93-105

3. Human Dignity in Context

   1. A Journey Towards Understanding: True and False Dignity

      • Christina Mason

      Pages 109-118

   2. The Question of Dignity: Doubts and Loves and a Whisper from Where the Ruined House Once Stood

      • Veronica Brady

      Pages 119-126

   3. Religion and Dignity: Assent and Dissent

      • Eilidh Campbell St John, Stuart Blackler

      Pages 127-134

   4. Giving the Past Its Dignity

      • Greg Dening

      Pages 135-139

   5. Dignity and Indignity

      • Nicholas Tarling

      Pages 141-149

   6. Human Dignity and the Law

      • Sir Guy Green

      Pages 151-156

   7. On the International Legal Aspects of Human Dignity

      • Don Chalmers, Ryuichi Ida

      Pages 157-168

   8. Doing Justice to Dignity in the Criminal Law

      • Julia Davis

      Pages 169-182

   9. Human Dignity: The New Phase in International Law

      • Michael Tate

      Pages 183-186

   10. Dignity and Health

       • Martin Tattersall

       Pages 187-191

   11. Human Dignity: The Perspective of a Gynaecological Oncologist

       • Neville F. Hacker

       Pages 193-197

The Honourable William Cox AC RFD ED, Governor of Tasmania The issue of human dignity was given a new impetus at the end of the Second World War as a reaction to the horrors of the Jewish holocaust and other Nazi atrocities. The immediate consequence was its recognition in such international documents as the Charter of the United Nations (1945) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948). Several new national constitutions likewise gave it recognition. Though undefined, it was seen as a supreme value possessed by all human beings and one giving rise to rights and obligations in and upon them. In recent decades the existence of these rights has led to acceptance of procedures whereby they may be enforced, and to the overthrow of such doctrines constraining them as that of Sovereign Immunity. In domestic law, too, there have been ramifications, while advances in medical science have raised ethical issues in respect of genetics, human cloning, and the termination or officious prolongation of life. It was timely then that consideration should be given to human dignity by a wide range of researchers and practitioners in disciplines such as law, philosophy, history, political science, medicine, the arts, and theology at the Colloquium in Hobart in 2004 organized by the editors of this volume.

• Religion
• dignity
• ethics
• human being
• international law
• justice
• personhood
• respect

• University of Tasmania, Australia

  Jeff Malpas

• University of Tasmania and University of Sydney, Australia

  Norelle Lickiss

Policies and ethics