Human Dignity between Legal-Dogmatic and Philosophical Demands Meaning, Presuppositions, and Implications of Dung's Understanding of Human Dignity

This paper analyses the understanding of human dignity as conceived by Gunter Durig, German legal theorist. For decades his interpretation has had a strong influence on the German legal theory and constitutional practice, and even with the emergence of a rival interpretation in the framework of "Maunz-Durig" by the beginning of the new millennium, Durig's solutions have not been forgotten. The paper develops key points, important philosophical presuppositions and implications of Durig's interpretation of dignity. At the same time, his understanding of the meaning and status of human dignity in law is problematized, together with the relationship of dignity and human rights, subjects of dignity, the relationship between honour, reputation and dignity, his idea of personal ethics, "object-formulas", as well as the relationship between dignity and freedom.