Dignity and Human Rights: Language Philosophy and Social Realizations

Is it impossible to assess dignity, the agency of autonomy and equality of rights under the current rule of law, when we are met by global challenges like climate change, financial crisis, food crisis, natural disasters, inequality, violent conflicts and trade disputes? Drawing on European philosophical enlightenment to rethink dominant theories of contemporary Western Human Rights, Stephan P. Leher explores the philosophical foundation of the concept of ‘dignity’ and Human Rights. Using specific examples from Africa and Latin America to explain these concepts as social realizations in the world, Leher demonstrates the link between justice and peace and contends that dignity, freedom and Human Rights law rule are social realizations and claims by all people. With the help of language philosophy he argues that sentences and propositions about social choices and realizations of real life expressed in ordinary language constitutes the basic element for the foundation and protection of human dignity and Human Rights. The social choice to claim one’s freedom and right can be considered as the dignity agency of the individual. Dignity and Human Rights sheds new light on the academic assessment of dignity, the agency of autonomy and equality of rights under a rule of law in a time of changes and challenges of human rights policies and politics.