Social Philosophy Today 16:127-139 (2000)
Authors |
|
Abstract |
Most scholars describe Kant’s idea of dignity as what I term his “vertical” account—that is, our human dignity insofar as we rise above heteronomous natural inclinations and realize human freedom by obeying the moral law. In this paper, I attempt to supplement this traditional view by exploring Kant’s neglected “horizontal” account of dignity—that is, our human dignity insofar as we exist in relationship with others. First, I examine the negative aspect of this horizontal account of dignity, found in Kant’s discussion of public heteronomy perpetuated by unjust social institutions. Second, I explore Kant’s idea of public dignity realized via social interaction: both (1) at the interpersonal level of education and friendship, and (2) at the societal level, in terms of moral education in the public sphere and a communal moral striving towards the highest good. I argue that we cannot realize our full human dignity for Kant outside of the context of concrete social relations with other moral agents
|
Keywords | Conference Proceedings Social and Political Philosophy |
Categories | (categorize this paper) |
ISBN(s) | 1543-4044 |
DOI | 10.5840/socphiltoday20001641 |
Options |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Download options
References found in this work BETA
No references found.
Citations of this work BETA
Similar books and articles
Human Dignity as High Moral Status.Manuel Toscano - 2011 - Les ateliers de l'éthique/The Ethics Forum 6 (2):4-25.
Human Rights and Human Dignity: An Appeal to Separate the Conjoined Twins.Doris Schroeder - 2012 - Ethical Theory and Moral Practice 15 (3):323-335.
A Response to Nordenfelt's “The Varieties of Dignity”.Andrew Edgar - 2004 - Health Care Analysis 12 (2):83-89.
Dignity and Enhancement.Nick Bostrom - 2008 - In Adam Schulman (ed.), Human Dignity and Bioethics: Essays Commissioned by the President's Council on Bioethics. [President's Council on Bioethics.
Human Dignity as a Right.Gan Shaoping & Zhang Lin - 2009 - Frontiers of Philosophy in China 4 (3):370 - 384.
African Conceptions of Human Dignity: Vitality and Community as the Ground of Human Rights.Thaddeus Metz - 2012 - Human Rights Review 13 (1):19-37.
Torture. How Denying Moral Standing Violates Human Dignity.Andreas Maier - forthcoming - In Webster Elaine & Kaufmann Paulus (eds.), Violations of Human Dignity. Springer.
Analytics
Added to PP index
2011-12-02
Total views
53 ( #211,929 of 2,498,184 )
Recent downloads (6 months)
1 ( #427,476 of 2,498,184 )
2011-12-02
Total views
53 ( #211,929 of 2,498,184 )
Recent downloads (6 months)
1 ( #427,476 of 2,498,184 )
How can I increase my downloads?
Downloads