Human dignity : a right or a responsibility?

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:While most people acknowledge the dignity of fellow humans, atrocities that deny thedignity of people are rampant in our world. The ongoing ignorance and aberrations of thedignity of human beings in the world might mean that there is still not clarity on whatrespect for the dignity of others really mean, how it should be practiced and whether humandignity is an entitlement or a responsibility.Human dignity was not always bestowed to every individual. In ancient times dignity wasreserved for the strongest individual in and later was extended to certain classes, groupsand nations like the monarchy and clergy, the Egyptians and Romans. The Renaissancebrought a new consciousness of the worth of man. But despite this awareness, and theadvent of a human rights culture as is found in the writings of modem philosophers likeJohn Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Immanuel Kant, who all support the notion ofhuman dignity, liberty and human rights, gross human rights violations still took placeduring the twentieth century. Stalin used the Russian people to create a successfulsocialistic state; Hitler exterminated all those who obstructed his ideal of creating a pureAryan race, while Verwoerd legalized racial discrimination in South Africa and Namibia.As a result of the atrocities in Europe, especially during World War II, The United Nationswas established with the aim to oversee and address human rights violations in the world.Human rights and respect for human dignity are included in the Bill of rights of theConstitutions of America, South Africa and Namibia.Health care providers acknowledge the rights of patients by respect for the autonomy ofpatients. Patients are autonomous persons and health care providers enable patients to takeautonomous action. Autonomous action means that a patient will act with understanding,intention and without coercion. Paternalism is only justified when it serves to protect thepatient or protect the rights of others. Health care providers practice autonomy byfacilitating informed consent, by providing truthful information, by upholdingconfidentiality, to protect privacy of patients and to treat patients with respect. There is little uncertainty that people can claim the right to human dignity because personshave intrinsic worth as unique beings that are irreplaceable and exist as an end inthemselves. Holy Scripture confirms that humans are created in the image of God.International human rights instruments and national constitutions provide people with thestatutory right to human dignity and enable people to legally claim this right. But humandignity is also a responsibility because claiming a right has a reciprocal obligation onothers not to violate the claimed right, but also requires from persons to value their ownlives. Over reliance on science and rational thinking may negate human dignity becausescientists do not always consider the needs of persons. The examples of world leaders likeGandhi, King and Mandela have also shown that one can earn human dignity throughrespectful conduct towards others. Protagoras of Abdera was aware of human worthinessas right and responsibility as long back as the fifth century Be, and this awareness stillexists today.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University