Honors Theses

Document Type

Thesis

Date of Completion

Spring 4-30-2026

Academic Year

2025-2026

Department

Interdisciplinary

Academic Major

Interdisciplinary Studies

Second Academic Major

Theological Studies

Faculty Advisor

Heath Carpenter, Ph.D.

Abstract

Human dignity is integral to modern discussions of human rights and liberties, but this connection can be found stretching back through history to the early developments of human rights. This paper begins with modern philosophical definitions of human dignity, especially from Rosen and Kateb. Rosen discusses four “strands” of dignity- Intrinsic Dignity, Status Dignity, Manner Dignity, and Respect Dignity. This paper then uses that framework to find human dignity implicit within the founding documents of the United States including the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, as well as “Common Sense” and the Magna Carta to trace the rights and dignity development further back with context. Ideas such as consent, reason, equality, and inalienable rights within these documents are rich with dignity significance, with multiple strands of dignity underpinning them philosophically. This new dignity approach to these much-studied documents provides novel insights into the documents examined, and into the intertwined histories of human rights and the human dignity concept.

Download

Share

COinS