Dr Christopher Woodard

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A Practice Approach to Dignity

This paper explores the prospects for theorising about dignity and indignity using the hypothesis that there is a widespread practice of recognition respect for all humans. This approach is analogous to some approaches to explaining blameworthiness. We can think of the ground(s) of blameworthiness (or, recognition respect-worthiness) as being determined by the norms of a justified practice of blaming (or respecting). This approach to thinking about dignity could help solve some problems, including the problem of explaining the grounds of the equal dignity of all humans, and the problem of explaining the relationship between equal dignity (which is inalienable, and so constant), on one hand, and dignity of bearing (which is variable) on the other. One problem for the approach, however, is that it may seem wrong to claim that equal human dignity is contingent on the existence of a justified practice of recognition respect.