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Work and Human Dignity: Toward a Critical Analysis in Legal Philosophy

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  • Mohamed Ali Abdelwahed

    (CEPN - Centre d'Economie de l'Université Paris Nord - Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord)

Abstract

This study begins from an observation that is both simple and unsettling: the relationship between work and the dignity of the human person is not naturally harmonious, but structurally conflictual. From a Marxian perspective, work and dignity appear fundamentally incompatible within a capitalist system that privileges the imperative of productivity gains while increasing the burden of alienation. In modern attempts to "humanize" capitalism, the contraction of work-together with a long-term reduction in working time-has been accompanied by a striking expansion of human rights. Yet paradoxically, this investment in rights (with human dignity at the forefront) may be read as the logical outcome of the current cycle of labor scarcity. While "dignity" lends itself to countless philosophical speculations, it remains resistant to legal systematization and is therefore exposed to recurrent criticism. We argue that the antagonism between work and dignity should be dialectically resolved-in concreto-through the notion of vulnerability.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohamed Ali Abdelwahed, 2021. "Work and Human Dignity: Toward a Critical Analysis in Legal Philosophy," Post-Print hal-05511137, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05511137
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-05511137v1
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