What is human dignity? Is dignity exclusive to human beings?

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Take5
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What is human dignity? Is dignity exclusive to human beings?

Post by Take5 »

This is the topic for next Thursday's discussion in our U3A philosophy group.

I'm hoping to concentrate on the second part of the topic - I'd appreciate any thoughts.
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brimstoneSalad
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Re: What is human dignity? Is dignity exclusive to human beings?

Post by brimstoneSalad »

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dignity
Moral, ethical, legal, and political discussions use the concept of dignity to express the idea that a being has the right to be valued, respected, and to receive ethical treatment. In the modern context dignity can function as an extension of the Enlightenment-era concepts of inherent, inalienable rights.
It's often used as a kind of deontological concept, but I suppose we could interpret it as regarding the interests of others as having value.

Are we respecting the value of others, and their desire not to die, when we kill them for taste pleasure instead of true need?
Take5
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Re: What is human dignity? Is dignity exclusive to human beings?

Post by Take5 »

Thanks, Brim.
Take5
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Re: What is human dignity? Is dignity exclusive to human beings?

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The session went very well. I gave them your quote, several times, brim, in various forms, and most participants were quite receptive to the theory of treating animals with respect. There was a recognition that animal welfare had improved over the centuries - from the horrors of the Roman Colosseum to the banning of fox hunting. However they're not yet (I'm working on them) ready to make the necessary final leap.

I was given an opportunity to express my views forcibly, when one of the members said it was his 'free choice' to eat animal produce. I replied that his 'free choice' was contributing to animal suffering; by not eating healthily, he could be a future drain on the NHS; plus his actions are helping to destroy the rain forest, and contributing to climate change. This led him to challenge me, "Had I forgotten the great cooling of 1974?" so revealing his true colours as a climate change denier. I gave him short shrift, this was not the subject of today's debate.
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NonZeroSum
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Re: What is human dignity? Is dignity exclusive to human beings?

Post by NonZeroSum »

Take5 wrote: Sun Jun 04, 2017 4:08 pm The session went very well. I gave them your quote, several times, brim, in various forms, and most participants were quite receptive to the theory of treating animals with respect. There was a recognition that animal welfare had improved over the centuries - from the horrors of the Roman Colosseum to the banning of fox hunting. However they're not yet (I'm working on them) ready to make the necessary final leap.

I was given an opportunity to express my views forcibly, when one of the members said it was his 'free choice' to eat animal produce. I replied that his 'free choice' was contributing to animal suffering; by not eating healthily, he could be a future drain on the NHS; plus his actions are helping to destroy the rain forest, and contributing to climate change. This led him to challenge me, "Had I forgotten the great cooling of 1974?" so revealing his true colours as a climate change denier. I gave him short shrift, this was not the subject of today's debate.
Very nice Take5, sound's like an exceptional debut, glad to read you enjoyed the to and fro of bringing truth to your classroom in a pragmatic way :)

I remember having a debate in biology class where I was the only one bringing attention to some of the problems with zoos, I tried the tact 'would we build these essentially Victorian attractions if they didn't exist today,' but it didn't help that the moderator (biology teacher) was highly bias against me for refusing to cut up frogs a few weeks before aha.
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brimstoneSalad
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Re: What is human dignity? Is dignity exclusive to human beings?

Post by brimstoneSalad »

I'm glad to hear it went so well!
Take5 wrote: Sun Jun 04, 2017 4:08 pm This led him to challenge me, "Had I forgotten the great cooling of 1974?" so revealing his true colours as a climate change denier. I gave him short shrift, this was not the subject of today's debate.
Yes, these ideas often go hand-in-hand. Is a session on climate change and science vs. conspiracy theories upcoming I wonder?
Take5
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Re: What is human dignity? Is dignity exclusive to human beings?

Post by Take5 »

Can't believe it's been two weeks since I visited! :(

Thanks folks. I always try and include one topic on climate change each term, and I like the suggestion of science vs conspiracy theories, I'll include it in the next programme. That should be interesting.
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