Past Present Future Dignity and Indignity w/Lea Ypi
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Sep 7, 2025 
In this engaging discussion, philosopher and writer Lea Ypi delves into her new book, "Indignity: A Life Reimagined." She explores the historical evolution of dignity, contrasting ancient views with Kantian insights on autonomy and moral philosophy. Ypi discusses how our understanding of dignity influences our perceptions of death and identity politics. She also highlights the tension between dignity and market value, addressing its implications for human rights and societal norms. A thought-provoking examination of what it means to live with dignity today!
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From Roman Status To Universal Worth
- Roman dignitas meant social status and rhetorical gravitas, not universal moral worth.
- Modern dignity shifts to a universal standing tied to being human and moral.
Dignitas: From Rome To Swiss Clinics
- Runciman links the Roman obsession with how one dies to the modern Swiss clinic named Dignitas.
- The clinic's name echoes Roman concerns about a dignified death and bodily control.
Kant's Würde: Dignity As Moral Worth
- Kant reframes dignity as Würde: an inviolable worth tied to autonomous will and moral law.
- This makes dignity a ground for unconditional obligations, distinct from Stoic valorization of suicide.
