“Charting the Future: Elevating Human Dignity as the Keystone of Universal Rights and Cohesion in the 21st Century”

Yasushi Kato (Project Director)

In an era marked by relentless upheaval, the dawn of the 21st century has unfolded amidst a series of formidable challenges. From the harrowing events of September 11, 2001, to the wars that followed, from the catastrophic earthquake and nuclear disaster in Japan to the global upheaval wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic, and the recent conflict in Ukraine as well as in Gaza, our world has been thrust into a state of persistent turmoil. These crises have not only tested our resilience but have also exposed the fragile underpinnings of our societal values and the precarious state of human rights, which, despite being heralded as the guiding principle of our times, have often been neglected or outright violated in the face of adversity.

The egregious breach of human rights, especially evident in the theater of war and through the plight of refugees, underscores an urgent imperative to revisit and fortify the very foundations upon which these rights stand. The response to the refugee crisis, marked by inconsistency and a troubling double standard in the treatment of Syrian and Ukrainian refugees by European nations and the U.S., further challenges the universality of human rights. This inconsistency is mirrored in Japan, highlighting a global need for introspection and reform.

Parallel to these socio-political quandaries, the rapid pace of scientific and technological advancement presents a dual-edged sword. While once celebrated as harbinger of progress and solutions to societal woes, the discourse around technology, exemplified by the concerns surrounding generative AI technologies like ChatGPT, has shifted towards caution and responsibility. The call for “responsible” and “transformative” innovation seeks to recalibrate our approach to technological development, ensuring it serves as a force for societal good rather than a source of exacerbation. At the heart of our contemporary malaise lies a profound question: What values should anchor our society in an age of transformation and uncertainty? The quest for a new paradigm of societal integration, one that harmonizes the embrace of advanced scientific achievements with the imperatives of pluralization and democratization, is more pressing than ever.

Project Summary:
In response to this epochal challenge, we propose to recenter the discourse around the concept of “dignity.” Dignity, with its deep ethical resonances and universal appeal, offers a normative framework capable of guiding us through the labyrinth of modern crises. Our endeavor is to explore and elucidate the concept of dignity across various dimensions—historical, legal, social, and technological—and to establish “dignity studies” as a pivotal field of interdisciplinary research. This ambitious project will amalgamate the wisdom of distinguished scholars and innovative early-career researchers from a spectrum of disciplines, aiming to forge a comprehensive understanding of dignity and its application in enhancing human rights and societal cohesion.

By delving into the philosophical underpinnings and practical implications of dignity, we aim to cultivate a discourse that not only addresses the normative role of dignity in the context of emerging technologies and medical ethics but also fosters a culture where dignity is revered and protected across all spheres of life. Through educational initiatives and policy recommendations, our goal is to embed the principles of human dignity and rights into the fabric of society, ensuring they serve as a beacon of universality and inclusivity.

In embracing a global perspective and integrating diverse cultural and philosophical insights, we aspire to imbue the concept of dignity with a genuinely universal essence. It is our conviction that through the advancement of “dignity studies,” we can illuminate a path forward, establishing dignity as a universally recognized and revered value, pivotal for navigating the complexities of the 21st century.

This sophisticated articulation of our mission reflects our commitment to addressing the multifaceted challenges of our time with depth, rigor, and a unifying vision for a more humane and cohesive world.