Dignity
A History
Published on 10. August 2017
Book
Paperback/Softback
432 pages
978-0-19-938600-0 (ISBN)
Description
In everything from philosophical ethics to legal argument to public activism, it has become commonplace to appeal to the idea of human dignity. In such contexts, the concept of dignity typically signifies something like the fundamental moral status belonging to all humans. Remarkably, however, it is only in the last century that this meaning of the term has become standardized. Before this, dignity was instead a concept associated with social status. Unfortunately, this transformation remains something of a mystery in existing scholarship. Exactly when and why did "dignity" change its meaning? And before this change, was it truly the case that we lacked a conception of human worth akin to the one that "dignity" now represents? In this volume, leading scholars across a range of disciplines attempt to answer such questions by clarifying the presently murky history of "dignity," from classical Greek thought through the Middle Ages and Enlightenment to the present day.
Reviews / Votes
...a fascinating book that will enrich one's understanding of this important philosophical concept. Anyone interested in the history of dignity, or ethics in general, could benefit from this book. * Nicholas R. Baima, Bryn Mawr Classical Review * In addition to tracing the roots of the concept of dignity from classical Greek and Roman writers through medieval Christian doctrine and early modern philosophy, Debes (philosophy, Univ. of Memphis) includes observations from Eastern thought and Islamic scholarship. He opens the volume with a helpful introductory overview and concludes with a discussion of dignity as an important part of current issues in bioethics and current concerns related to race, capital punishment, and modern jurisprudence ... Recommended. * C. L. Hansen, CHOICE *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 140 mm
Width: 203 mm
Thickness: 28 mm
Weight
499 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-938600-0 (9780199386000)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
08/2017
Oxford University Press Inc
€151.66
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Remy Debes is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Memphis. He has published on a wide variety of areas in moral theory, including human dignity, respect, metaethics, moral psychology, empathy, and understanding. He has also published a variety of articles and chapters in the history of ethics, especially on the work of David Hume and Adam Smith. He is the co-editor of Ethical Sentimentalism, forthcoming from Cambridge University Press.
Content
Introduction Remy Debes Chapter 1. Dignity in Homer and Classical Greece Patrice Rankine
Chapter 2. Dignity in Roman and Stoic Thought Miriam Griffin
Reflection: Dignity in Confucian and Buddhist Thought David Wong
Chapter 3. Dignity After the Fall Bonnie Kent
Chapter 4. Islamic Conceptions of Dignity: Historical Trajectories and Paradigms Mustafa Shah
Chapter 5. Dignity, Vile Bodies and Nakedness: Giovanni Pico and Giannozzo Manetti Brian Copenhaver
Reflection: Portraiture, Social Positioning, and Displays of Dignity in Early Modern London Edward Town
Chapter 6. Equal Dignity and Rights Stephen Darwall
Chapter 7. Human Dignity Before Kant: Denis Diderot's Passionate Person Remy Debes
Chapter 8. Dignity: Kant's Revolutionary Conception Oliver Sensen
Reflection: A Time For Dignity Charles Mills
Chapter 9. Bourgeois Dignity: Making the Self-Made Man Christine Henderson
Reflection: Taking refuge from history in morality: Marx, Morality, and Dignity Somogy Varga
Chapter 10. Universalizing Dignity in the Nineteenth Century Mikka LaVaque-Manty
Reflection: Why Bioethics isn't Ready for Human Dignity Marcus Duewell
Chapter 11. Sympathy and Dignity in Early Africana Philosophy Bernie Boxill
Reflection: Death and Dignity in American Law Emma Kaufman
Chapter 2. Dignity in Roman and Stoic Thought Miriam Griffin
Reflection: Dignity in Confucian and Buddhist Thought David Wong
Chapter 3. Dignity After the Fall Bonnie Kent
Chapter 4. Islamic Conceptions of Dignity: Historical Trajectories and Paradigms Mustafa Shah
Chapter 5. Dignity, Vile Bodies and Nakedness: Giovanni Pico and Giannozzo Manetti Brian Copenhaver
Reflection: Portraiture, Social Positioning, and Displays of Dignity in Early Modern London Edward Town
Chapter 6. Equal Dignity and Rights Stephen Darwall
Chapter 7. Human Dignity Before Kant: Denis Diderot's Passionate Person Remy Debes
Chapter 8. Dignity: Kant's Revolutionary Conception Oliver Sensen
Reflection: A Time For Dignity Charles Mills
Chapter 9. Bourgeois Dignity: Making the Self-Made Man Christine Henderson
Reflection: Taking refuge from history in morality: Marx, Morality, and Dignity Somogy Varga
Chapter 10. Universalizing Dignity in the Nineteenth Century Mikka LaVaque-Manty
Reflection: Why Bioethics isn't Ready for Human Dignity Marcus Duewell
Chapter 11. Sympathy and Dignity in Early Africana Philosophy Bernie Boxill
Reflection: Death and Dignity in American Law Emma Kaufman