Human Dignity
Human Dignity
Human Dignity
Human dignity is the foundational principle that all people possess dignity simply by virtue of the fact that they are human beings. This starting point is a defining principle that grounds other core concepts within the classical liberal tradition. Because every human possesses inherent dignity, every person is equally deserving of freedom, justice, access to civil society, and fair treatment under the law. That means, for example, that racist or sexist ideas and social structures that treat some people as inferior, or deny them full personhood, should be challenged by the norms of liberalism. The classical liberal commitment to the principle of human dignity means that we are committed to freedom and justice not just for ourselves but for all others as well.