This book is open access under a CC BY license. This book offers a unique and insightful
analysis of Western and Middle Eastern concepts of dignity and illustrates them with examples
of everyday life. Dignity in the 21st Century - Middle East and West is unique and insightful
for a range of reasons. First the book is co-authored by scholars from two different cultures
(Middle East and West). As a result the interpretations of dignity covered are broader than
those in most Western publications. Second the ambition of the book is to use examples from
everyday life and fiction to debate a range of dignity interpretations supplemented by
philosophical and theological theories. Thus the book is designed to be accessible to a
general readership which is further facilitated because it is published with full open access.
Third the book does not defend one superior theory of dignity but instead presents six
Western approaches and one based on the Koran and then asks whether a common essence can be
detected. The answer to the question whether a common essence can be detected between the
Koranic interpretation of dignity and the main Western theories (virtue Kant) is YES. The
essence can be seen in dignity as a sense of self-worth which persons have a duty to develop
and respect in themselves and a duty to protect in others. The book ends with two
recommendations. First given the 7 concepts of dignity introduced in the book meaningful
dialogue can only be achieved if conversation partners clarify which variation they are using.
Second future collaborations between philosophers and psychologists might be helpful in moving
theoretical knowledge on dignity as a sense of self-worth into practical action. The scourges
of a sense of self-worth and dignity are identified by psychologists as violence humiliation
disregard and embarrassment. To know more about how these can be avoided from psychologists is
helpful when protecting a sense of self-worth in others.
