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Humiliation, Degradation, Dehumanization

Human Dignity Violated

  • Book
  • © 2011

Overview

Editors:
  1. Paulus Kaufmann

    1. Ethik-Zentrum, Universität Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland

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  2. Hannes Kuch

    1. SFB Kulturen des Performativen, FU Berlin, Berlin, Germany

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  3. Christian Neuhaeuser

    1. Philosophische Fak., Inst. Philosophie, Universität Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany

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  4. Elaine Webster

    1. Law School, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom

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  • The first volume on violations of human dignity in English language.
  • The relation of specific forms of violations of human dignity, e.g. humiliation, degradation etc., as well as concrete practices are discussed.
  • The book contains conceptual papers as well as studies of particular cases and tries to solve theoretical questions by studying concrete problems.
  • The approach is interdisciplinary and joins philosophers and lawyers working on human dignity.

Part of the book series: Library of Ethics and Applied Philosophy (LOET, volume 24)

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Table of contents (17 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xiv
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  2. Conceptions and Theories

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 19-19
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    2. Human Dignity Violated: A Negative Approach – Introduction

      • Paulus Kaufmann, Hannes Kuch, Christian Neuhäuser, Elaine Webster
      Pages 1-5

    3. Three Crucial Turns on the Road to an Adequate Understanding of Human Dignity

      • Ralf Stoecker
      Pages 7-17

    4. Humiliation: The Collective Dimension

      • Christian Neuhäuser
      Pages 21-36

    5. The Rituality of Humiliation: Exploring Symbolic Vulnerability

      • Hannes Kuch
      Pages 37-56

    6. Instrumentalization: What Does It Mean to Use a Person?

      • Paulus Kaufmann
      Pages 57-65

    7. Degradation: A Human Rights Law Perspective

      • Elaine Webster
      Pages 67-84

    8. Dehumanization: Perceiving the Body as (In)Human

      • Sophie Oliver
      Pages 85-97

  3. Practices of Violating Human Dignity

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 99-99
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    2. Torture

      • Andreas Maier
      Pages 101-117

    3. Rape

      • Ivana Radačić
      Pages 119-132

    4. Social Exclusion

      • Steffen K. Herrmann
      Pages 133-149

    5. Absolute Poverty

      • Peter Schaber
      Pages 151-158

    6. Relative Poverty

      • Julia Müller, Christian Neuhäuser
      Pages 159-172

    7. Labor Exploitation

      • Kirsteen Shields
      Pages 173-189

    8. Bonded Labor

      • Tamara Enhuber
      Pages 191-212

  4. Conclusions for a Positive Account of Human Dignity

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 213-213
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    2. Human Dignity and Human Rights

      • Marcus Düwell
      Pages 215-230

    3. Dignity and Preservation of Personhood

      • Samuel J. Kerstein
      Pages 231-241
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Keywords

About this book

Degradation, dehumanization, instrumentalization, humiliation, and nonrecognition – these concepts point to ways in which we understand human beings to be violated in their dignity. Violations of human dignity are brought about by concrete practices and conditions; some commonly acknowledged, such as torture and rape, and others more contested, such as poverty and exclusion. This volume collates reflections on such concepts and a range of practices, deepening our understanding of human dignity and its violation, bringing to the surface interrelationships and commonalities, and pointing to the values that are thereby shown to be in danger. In presenting a streamlined discussion from a negative perspective, complemented by conclusions for a positive account of human dignity, the book is at once a contribution to the body of literature on what dignity is and how it should be protected as well as constituting an alternative, fresh and focused perspective relevant to this significant recurring debate. As the concept of human dignity itself crosses disciplinary boundaries, this is mirrored in the unique range of perspectives brought by the book’s European and American contributors – in philosophy and ethics, law, human rights, literature, cultural studies and interdisciplinary research. This volume will be of interest to social and moral philosophers, legal and human rights theorists, practitioners and students.

Editors and Affiliations

  • Ethik-Zentrum, Universität Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland

    Paulus Kaufmann

  • SFB Kulturen des Performativen, FU Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Hannes Kuch

  • Philosophische Fak., Inst. Philosophie, Universität Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany

    Christian Neuhaeuser

  • Law School, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom

    Elaine Webster

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