Abstract

This chapter explores the concept of human dignity in African philosophy. Specifically, it uses moderate communitarianism heuristically as a resource in African axiological thought to contribute to discourses on human dignity. It does so because much of the literature focuses on moderate communitarianism to reflect on human rights, and it tends to neglect to theorize the concept of human dignity in spite of the supposed intrinsic relationship between the two concepts of human dignity and human rights. This chapter focuses on moderate communitarianism and human dignity in the search for a plausible and robust account of social justice. The chapter uncovers two underexplored concepts of human dignity, the religious life-based interpretation of it and the secular personhood-based interpretation of it.