Reclaiming human dignity: a critical review of contemporary theories in light of ontological foundations

Abstract

Contemporary healthcare ethics often invokes the concept of human dignity as a normative cornerstone. Yet beneath this apparent consensus lies a fragmentation of meaning: dignity is variably interpreted as autonomy, capacity, recognition, or social construction-with little agreement on its essential content or justification. This conceptual disarray weakens the ethical coherence of bioethical decision-making and obscures the true nature of the human person. This article offers a critical review of the predominant contemporary theories of human dignity, including recognition-based approaches, capabilities theory, procedural pragmatism, and postmodern critiques. We expose the internal tensions and philosophical fragilities of each, especially when applied to medical practice. In contrast, we defend an ontologically grounded understanding of dignity-one that recognizes the human being as a unified, rational, embodied substance possessing intrinsic worth by virtue of being. By recovering this ontological foundation, we argue for a more coherent, universal, and morally resilient framework for healthcare ethics-one capable of upholding the inviolability of the person beyond shifting cultural, legal, or utilitarian paradigms.

Keywords: Bioethics; Healthcare ethics; Human dignity; Metaphysical anthropology; Ontology.