TFL Vsebine / Revija Revus

Stéphanie Hennette-Vauchez v članku A Human Dignitas? utemeljuje genealoško povezavo med starodavnim pravnim principom dignitas in sodobnejšim načelom človeškega dostojanstva, na katerem temeljijo argumenti v prid zakonske prepovedi nekaterih praks, za katere se vpleteni odločijo avtonomno (na primer evtanazija in prostitucija). Pričujoči pregled vsebuje predstavitev in kritično analizo avtoričinega argumenta.

In her article »A Human Dignitas?«, Stéphanie Hennette-Vauchez argues in favour of a strong genealogical link between the ancient legal concept dignitas and a more contemporary human dignity principle which is often used in arguments against practices which have been autonomously chosen by those involved (e.g. euthanasia and prostitution). Hennette-Vauchez argues that such constraints cannot be based on the modern conception of dignity, which is understood primarily in terms of autonomy, and therefore she suggests that we look at the legal principle which has been in use since the times of the Roman Empire throughout the medieval era and is still present in some legal documents today. According to this concept, dignitas, the dignity bearer is understood as a mere “temporary repository” of dignity rather than its absolute owner. Hennette-Vauchez argues that we can translate this notion of dignity as a property that can be temporarily borne but never owned, as corresponding to the contemporary understanding which requires to respect dignity not just in others but also in ourselves by refusing to participate in practices and interactions that allegedly diminish human dignity.