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European Problems in Understanding Human Dignity

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Encyclopedia of Contemporary Constitutionalism

Abstract

Europe is facing an essential change in understanding of the foundations of dignity, and this seems to be happening unnoticed. At the core of this change lies an abandonment of recognition of the inherent character of dignity, which is among the crucial elements of a universal paradigm for understanding human rights. The considerations here serve to explain some of the consequences of this change for the understanding of human rights, especially their claim to be universal. It is argued that recognition of the inherency of dignity is interrelated and interdependent with recognition of the universality and equality of dignity, and – in consequence – with recognition of the universality and equality of human rights. The exclusion of inherency from the qualities of dignity recognized by law results in a rejection of the universality and equality of dignity and rights.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Law, Faculty of Psychology and Law in Poznań, Department of Public Law and Legal Theory, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw, Poland

    Marek Piechowiak

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  1. Marek Piechowiak
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Correspondence to Marek Piechowiak .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Cremades & Calvo-Sotelo Abogados, Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Javier Cremades

  2. Public Law II & Philology, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Cristina Hermida

Section Editor information

  1. University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy

    Antonio Incampo

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Piechowiak, M. (2022). European Problems in Understanding Human Dignity. In: Cremades, J., Hermida, C. (eds) Encyclopedia of Contemporary Constitutionalism. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31739-7_169-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31739-7_169-3

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-31739-7

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    European Problems in Understanding Human Dignity
    Published:
    10 November 2022

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31739-7_169-3

  2. European Problems in Understanding Human Dignity
    Published:
    10 April 2022

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31739-7_169-2

  3. Original

    European Problems in Understanding Human Dignity
    Published:
    24 December 2021

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31739-7_169-1

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