Abstract

Human rights thinking interprets absolute human dignity as the moral reason for respecting oneself and all other persons. In the current dignity debate, this justification is increasingly being criticised. It is claimed that human dignity is not the moral reason but a consequence of acts of respect. In this regard, the explosive question arises as to which moral reason should replace human dignity. It must be noted that the concept of human dignity as a consequence of personal conduct are not able to close this ethical justification gap. A reflective line of argumentation can show that the founding value of human dignity is indispensable.