1_9788411307260

148 Coordinator

José María Puyol Montero

Human dignity, vulnerability and law Studies on the dignity of human life

alternativa

HUMAN DIGNITY, VULNERABILITY AND LAW STUDIES ON THE DIGNITY OF HUMAN LIFE

COMITÉ CIENTÍFICO DE LA EDITORIAL TIRANT LO BLANCH María José Añón Roig

Marta Lorente Sariñena

Ana Cañizares Laso

Javier de Lucas Martín

Jorge A. Cerdio Herrán

Víctor Moreno Catena

José Ramón Cossío Díaz

Francisco Muñoz Conde

Catedrática de Filosofía del Derecho de la Universidad de Valencia Catedrática de Derecho Civil de la Universidad de Málaga

Catedrático de Teoría y Filosofía de Derecho.

Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México Ministro en retiro de la Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación y miembro de El Colegio Nacional

María Luisa Cuerda Arnau

Catedrática de Derecho Penal de la Universidad Jaume I de Castellón

Carmen Domínguez Hidalgo

Catedrática de Derecho Civil de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Eduardo Ferrer Mac-Gregor Poisot

Juez de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos.

Investigador del Instituto de Investigaciones Jurídicas de la UNAM

Owen Fiss

Catedrático emérito de Teoría del Derecho de la Universidad de Yale (EEUU)

José Antonio García-Cruces González Catedrático de Derecho Mercantil de la UNED

José Luis González Cussac Catedrático de Derecho Penal de la Universidad de Valencia

Luis López Guerra

Catedrático de Derecho Constitucional de la Universidad Carlos III de Madrid

Ángel M. López y López

Catedrático de Derecho Civil de la Universidad de Sevilla

Catedrática de Historia del Derecho de la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Catedrático de Filosofía del Derecho y Filosofía Política de la Universidad de Valencia Catedrático de Derecho Procesal de la Universidad Carlos III de Madrid Catedrático de Derecho Penal de la Universidad Pablo de Olavide de Sevilla

Angelika Nussberger

Catedrática de Derecho Constitucional e Internacional en la Universidad de Colonia (Alemania) Miembro de la Comisión de Venecia

Héctor Olasolo Alonso

Catedrático de Derecho Internacional de la Universidad del Rosario (Colombia) y Presidente del Instituto Ibero-Americano de La Haya (Holanda)

Luciano Parejo Alfonso

Catedrático de Derecho Administrativo de la Universidad Carlos III de Madrid

Consuelo Ramón Chornet

Catedrática de Derecho Internacional Público y Relaciones Internacionales de la Universidad de Valencia

Tomás Sala Franco

Catedrático de Derecho del Trabajo y de la Seguridad Social de la Universidad de Valencia

Ignacio Sancho Gargallo

Magistrado de la Sala Primera (Civil) del Tribunal Supremo de España

Elisa Speckmann Guerra

Directora del Instituto de Investigaciones Históricas de la UNAM

Ruth Zimmerling

Catedrática de Ciencia Política de la Universidad de Mainz (Alemania)

Fueron miembros de este Comité: Emilio Beltrán Sánchez, Rosario Valpuesta Fernández y Tomás S. Vives Antón

Procedimiento de selección de originales, ver página web: www.tirant.net/index.php/editorial/procedimiento-de-seleccion-de-originales

HUMAN DIGNITY, VULNERABILITY AND LAW STUDIES ON THE DIGNITY OF HUMAN LIFE

Coordinator:

JOSÉ MARÍA PUYOL MONTERO

tirant lo blanch Valencia, 2023

Copyright ® 2023 Todos los derechos reservados. Ni la totalidad ni parte de este libro puede reproducirse o transmitirse por ningún procedimiento electrónico o mecánico, incluyendo fotocopia, grabación magnética, o cualquier almacenamiento de información y sistema de recuperación sin permiso escrito de los autores y del editor.

En caso de erratas y actualizaciones, la Editorial Tirant lo Blanch publicará la pertinente corrección en la página web www.tirant.com.

Sponsors: Real Colegio Complutense at Harvard University; Institute for Global Law and Policy (Harvard Law School); Harvard Law School Criminal Justice Policy Program; RCC Study Group ‘Studies on Life and Human Dignity’; Tirant lo Blanch Publisher; La Caixa Foundation.

La presente obra ha sido sometida a la revisión de pares ciegos según el protocolo de publicación de la editorial a efectos de ofrecer el rigor y calidad correspondiente tanto en su contenido como en su forma, aplicándose los criterios específicos aprobados por la Comisión Nacional E 016 (BOE num. 286, de 26 de noviembre de 2016).

© José María Puyol Montero (Coord.)

© TIRANT LO BLANCH EDITA: TIRANT LO BLANCH C/ Artes Gráficas, 14 - 46010 - Valencia TELFS.: 96/361 00 48 - 50 FAX: 96/369 41 51 Email:tlb@tirant.com www.tirant.com Librería virtual: www.tirant.es ISBN: 978-84-1130-726-0 MAQUETA: Tink Factoría de Color Si tiene alguna queja o sugerencia, envíenos un mail a: atencioncliente@tirant.com. En caso de no ser atendida su sugerencia, por favor, lea en www.tirant.net/index.php/empresa/ politicas-de-empresa nuestro procedimiento de quejas.

Responsabilidad Social Corporativa: http://www.tirant.net/Docs/RSCTirant.pdf

Autores:

Javier Aranguren Vicente Bellver Grzegorz J. Blicharz Manuel Estepa Montero Franciszek Longchamps de Bérier Liviu Olteanu Maria do Céu Patrão Javier Puyol Montero José María Puyol Montero Hugo S. Ramírez-García Joaquín María Álvarez Rivera Daniel Sánchez Mata Francesc Torralba María Jesús Torquemada Sánchez

Table of contents Prologue ....................................................................................................................

17

Introduction: The Value of Human Dignity ............................................................

21

IN THE NAME OF DIGNITY OR THE DIGNITY OF A NAME: THE JEWS María-Jesús Torquemada

I. INTRODUCTION: NAME, IDENTITY AND DIGNITY...............................

25

II. BRIEF NOTES ON THE NAME AS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT OF THE PERSON AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL AND ITS CONSTITUTIONAL CONCRETION IN SPAIN.....................................................................

28

III. THE RENUNCIATION OR DEPRIVATION OF THE NAME FOR REASONS OF RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION. THE PARTICULAR CASE OF THE JEWS IN A RETROSPECTIVE APPROACH........................................

II.1. Germany...............................................................................................

III.1.1. Germany between the wars and during the Nazi period.

The emigration.......................................................................

III.1.2. Precedents: Germanic legislation prior to the Nazi period and its aftermath....................................................................

II.2. The Spanish case: The erga omnes renunciation of the Jewish name to avoid inquisitorial persecution: some particular cases and consequences.......................................................................................

31 31 31 34 36

ON HUMAN DIGNITY? Javier Aranguren

I. ROUSSEAU ON ‘SENTIENT BEINGS’........................................................

43

II. OF PETS AND MEN.......................................................................................

45

III. ECOLOGICAL, ANIMALISTIC AND CLASSICAL APPROACH................

49

ANCIENT ORIGINS OF DIGNITY AT WORK: FREEDMEN’S SOCIAL PROTECTIONS AND DIGITAL PLATFORM WORKERS* Grzegorz Blicharz

I. INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................

56

II. TWO COMPARATIVE MODELS: SETTING THE STAGE..........................

61

10

Table of contents

III. DIGNITY AS AN EQUAL RATHER THAN THE FOREMOST CONCERN – FUNCTIONAL SIMILARITY......................................................................

64

IV. DIGNITY, DIGNITAS AND EXISTIMATIO – CONTENT SIMILARITY BETWEEN THE EU PROPOSAL, CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING AND ROMAN LAW.................................................................................................

66

V. DIGNITY AND DIGNITAS – RESPECT TOWARDS THE WORKER’S PRIVATE SPHERE................................................................................................

70

VI. PLURALITY OF GOODS COMPRISED IN THE CONCEPT OF HUMAN DIGNITY.........................................................................................................

71

VII. THE UNDERLYING JUSTIFICATION FOR PROTECTION OF FREEDMEN................................................................................................................

74

VIII. CONCLUSION...............................................................................................

77

LAZINESS AS AN ANTHROPOLOGICAL CHALLENGE FOR LAW IN THE TIME OF THE PANDEMIC Franciszek Longchamps de Bérier

I. PANDEMIC EXPERIENCE AND LEGAL INTUITION...............................

80

II. TERMINOLOGICAL DIVERSITY IN FACE OF THE NEED TO ACCURATELY DESCRIBE A SOCIAL SITUATION...............................................

84

III. LAZINESS WITHOUT LEGAL CONSEQUENCES?...................................

88

IV. LAZINESS IN THE FACE OF DUTY.............................................................

92

V. LAZINESS AS LEGALLY-GRADABLE..........................................................

99

VI. SEARCHING FOR A LEGAL DEFINITION OF LAZINESS........................

106

MORAL ABSOLUTES IN BUSINESS PRACTICE? A HUMAN RIGHTS-BASED ARGUMENT Hugo S. Ramírez-García

I. FOREWORD...................................................................................................

109

II. THE VULNERABLE NATURE OF THE HUMAN.......................................

111

III. ECONOMIC GLOBALIZATION: AN AMBIVALENT SCENARIO FOR HUMAN RIGHTS...........................................................................................

112

IV. HUMAN RIGHTS AND MORAL ABSOLUTES...........................................

115

V. EXTRA COMMERCIUM RATIONALE AS A FRAMEWORK FOR BUSINESS PRACTICES....................................................................................................

118

VI. FINAL REMARKS...........................................................................................

120

Table of contents

11

THE RIGHT OF ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION AND ITS LINK WITH FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS Manuel Estepa Montero

I. THE GENESIS OF THE CURRENT FORMULATION OF THE RIGHT TO PUBLIC INFORMATION.......................................................................

123

II. CONSIDERATIONS ON THE LEGAL NATURE OF THE RIGHT TO PUBLIC INFORMATION..............................................................................

126

III. THE INSTITUTION OF THE OMBUDSMAN IS STRONGLY IN FAVOUR OF THE FUNDAMENTAL NATURE OF THE RIGHT TO PUBLIC INFORMATION..................................................................................................

131

IV. THE LEGAL NATURE OF THE RIGHT OF ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION. ITS INSTRUMENTAL CHARACTER FOR THE EXERCISE OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS............................................................................

133

V. CONCLUSIONS.............................................................................................

138

THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON AND RESPECT FOR THE RIGHT TO PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION Javier Puyol Montero

I. INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................

141

II. THE PRINCIPLES THAT INSPIRE THE RIGHT TO HUMAN DIGNITY....................................................................................................................

149

III. THE PROTECTION OF PERSONAL DATA AND THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON..........................................................................................

151

IV. THE PRINCIPLES THAT INFORM THE RIGHT TO PROTECTION OF PERSONAL DATA..........................................................................................

153

HOW “NEW WORLD ORDER’ SCENARIOS” FACE FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE AND HUMAN DIGNITY IN TIME OF PANDEMIC AND EMERGENCY LAWS Liviu Olteanu

First Part. FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE VERSUS NEW NORMALCY ................

160

I. INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................

160

II. A “NEW FUTURE” DURING EMERGENCY TIMES....................................

II.1. Introductory Reflections......................................................................

II.2. Big Scenarious on a “New Future”......................................................

II.2.1. A Cosmic Panorama of the Future: King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon’s Dream................................................................

II.2.2. The American Intentions on New World Order..................

161 161 163 165 167

12

Table of contents

II.2.3. China’s Artificial Intelligence as A New World Order.........

II.2.4. Concern of Democracy in Digital Age..................................

II.3. Scenarios’ Etiology on Creating Narratives: Plandemic or Dreams?.

II.3.1. Beliefs Desirable for Authorities...........................................

II.3.2. New Enemies Must Be Identified..........................................

II.3.3. ‘Reasonable Doubt’ Ahead of ‘Political Correctness’..........

II.3.4. The Sense of Threat and Restriction of Liberty...................

II.3.5. ‘Lock Step’ Scenario: Control and Authoritarian Leadership...........................................................................................

II.3.6. The Greatest Risk of Global Catastrophe.............................

II.3.7. The SPARS Pandemic 2025 -2028: A Futuristic Scenario....

II.3.8. No Doubt We’ll Get Surprised...............................................

II.3.9. Event 201 Exercise: A Severe Pandemic...............................

II.3.10. Emergency Measures as A Fixture of Life.............................

II.3.11. From “Crossroads” to “Future Starts Today”.........................

II.3.12. ‘Scientific’ and Political Prophecies on Horizon.................

II.3.13. The Great Reset & New World Order...................................

II.3.14. Global Information Control and Communication..............

II.3.15. Re-Create A New World Order for Autocracy......................

II.3.16. Climate Change, Conscience & Sunday Law........................

II.4. Transition to Uncertainty....................................................................

III. FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE AND HUMAN DIGNITY UNDER ATTACK..........................................................................................................

III.1. Introductory Reflections......................................................................

III.2. Roger Williams: An Uncharted Ground For A New World...............

III.3. International Law on Dignity, Conscience and Free-Will..................

III.3.1. Universal Declaration of Human Rights...............................

III.3.2. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)..........................................................................................

III.3.3. Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Module 1, Commitment 1.....................................................

III.3.4. Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination............................................................

III.3.5. UNESCO - Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights (October 19, 2005).....................................................

III.3.6. Council of Europe European Convention on Human Rights......................................................................................

III.3.7. Council of Europe - Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being with regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine.........................

III.3.8. United States of America - First Amendment.......................

III.3.9. The Spanish Constitution & Law 24/1992...........................

III.4. Council of Europe: Political Remarks on Conscience.......................

III.5. A Historical Development: Catholic Thought, Reformation and Secularism.............................................................................................

III.5.1. Catholic Thought, Conscience And Common Good...........

III.5.2. Conscience and Reformation................................................

168 169 170 171 172 172 173 174 175 176 176 177 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 185 185 185 186 187 187 187 188 188 189 189 190 191 191 192 192 192 194

Table of contents

III.5.3. Conscience and Secularism...................................................

III.6. Separation of Church & State Prevents Abuses & Persecution.........

III.7. Conscience: Between Uncertainty and Fragmentation.....................

III.8. Liberty & Health Alliance: Avoiding Confusions...............................

IV. TODAY’S VULNERABILITIES: GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS, SOCIAL HOSTILITIES & RELIGION’S ABUSES AND PERSECUTION.................

IV.1. Government Restrictions on Conscience & Religious Liberty..........

IV.2. Social Hostilities and Rising Violence by Non-State Actors...............

IV.3. A Case-Study: ‘The Tomorrow War’ Movie.........................................

IV.4. Religion Abuse and Persecution Caused by Own’s Religion.............

IV.5. Pyramid of Religious Abuse Carried Out by One’s Religión.............

V. CONCLUSION...............................................................................................

V.1. Dignity – a Solution Against Any Common Enemy...........................

V.2. Law’s Limitations of ‘Emergency Measures’......................................

V.3. Facing the Future.................................................................................

13 196 197 199 200 204 204 206 207 209 212 214 214 215 216

THE PRINCIPLE OF HUMAN VULNERABILITY: HOW IS IT GROUNDED? Maria do Céu Patrão Neves

I. GENEALOGY OF THE CONCEPT OF VULNERABIILITY........................

I.2. The conceptualization process............................................................

II. VULNERABILITY AS AN ETHICAL PRINCIPLE.......................................

II.1. What is an ethical principle?...............................................................

II.2. The principle of vulnerability in the Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights......................................................................................

III. THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE PRINCIPLE OF VULNERABILITY..........

III.1. Criticism: a question of guidance........................................................

III.2. Grounding vulnerability......................................................................

218 219 223 223 224 226 226 229

VULNERABILITY, INTERDEPENDENCE AND COMPASSION: A CHALLENGE FOR THE LAW Vicente Bellver Capella

I. INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................

II. THE HUMAN CONDITION: VULNERABILITY, INTERDEPENDENCE, COMPASSION................................................................................................

II.1. The human being is an essentially fragile being................................

II.2. The human being is necessarily interdependent...............................

II.3. The human being must be compassionate.........................................

III. THE PRINCIPLE OF VULNERABILITY IN INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW.................................................................................................

233 235 235 239 240 245

14

Table of contents

IV. CONCLUSION: FROM VULNERABILITY AS A FACT TO VULNERABILITY AS A LEGAL PRINCIPLE.....................................................................

251

THE ETHICS OF CARE IN A POST-PANDEMIC WORLD Francesc Torralba

I. CRISIS AS OPPORTUNITY...........................................................................

253

II. THE POST-PANDEMIC WORLD..................................................................

II.1. The uncertainty of the future..............................................................

II.2. The volatility of the world....................................................................

II.3. Global interdependence......................................................................

II.4. The hyper-accelerated processes.........................................................

II.5. The vulnerability of the human condition.........................................

II.6. Complexity versus neo-populism........................................................

III. THE ETHICS OF CARE................................................................................

254 254 256 257 259 260 262 264

THE PERMANENCE OF THE DUTY OF CARE UNDER THE REFORM OF THE CIVIL CODE FOR THE ADAPTATION OF THE UN CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN SPAIN: A CRITIQUE OF THE CENTRALITY OF THE PRINCIPLE OF AUTONOMY IN THE SITUATIONS OF OLDER PEOPLE WITHOUT SOCIAL SUPPORT Joaquín María Rivera Álvarez

I. THE AIM OF THESE LINES: THE CRITICISM OF A LEGISLATIVE WORK THAT DENATURALISES THE INSTITUTIONS OF CIVIL PROTECTION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES FOR FOCUSIN THE REFORM ON THE PRINCIPLE OF AUTONOMY..............................................................

268

II. THE MEANING AND USE OF THE CONCEPT OF CAPACITY AND ITS DIFFERENT CATEGORIES...........................................................................

272

III. THE ‘AVOIDANCE’ OF THE DUTY OF CARE...........................................

278

IV. PATRIMONIAL ADMINISTRATION IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF SUPPORT INSTITUTIONS..................................................................................

283

V. SOME LIMITS OF THE EXERCISE OF THE DUTIES OF PERSONAL AND PATRIMONIAL CARE..........................................................................

285

VI. SOME CONCLUSIONS.................................................................................

288

VII. BIBLIOGRAPHY............................................................................................

289

Table of contents

15

THE DIGNITY OF HUMAN LIFE AT THE TIME OF DEATH: SOME ELEMENTS FOR REFLECTION ON EUTHANASIA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 21ST CENTURY José María Puyol Montero

I. INTRODUCTION: LIFE WITH DIGNITY AND DEATH WITH DIGNITY....................................................................................................................

291

II. WHAT IS MEANT BY EUTHANASIA?.........................................................

297

III. IS EUTHANASIA THE SOLUTION? THE INCONSISTENCIES OF EUTHANASIA................................................................................................

303

IV. THE ABSENCE OF DEBATE ON EUTHANASIA.......................................

307

V. SOME CONSEQUENCES OF LEGALIZING EUTHANASIA.....................

309

VI. SOME MESSAGES EUTHANASIA SENDS...................................................

314

VII. EUTHANASIA, FREE WILL AND FREEDOM.............................................

315

VIII. SOME FINAL CONSIDERATIONS ON THE 2021 SPANISH EUTHANASIA LAW.................................................................................................................

321

ANNEX ACTIVITIES ORGANIZED OR SPONSORED BY RCC STUDY GROUP «STUDIES ON LIFE AND HUMAN DIGNITY» ....................................................

325

Prologue We live in a world which is constantly changing, in which developments in technology and telecommunications have profoundly transformed human customs and relationships. As a result, it is becoming ever more disconnected to what it was in the past. Such a dynamic society has an ever pressing need to have solid foundations, where respect for human rights and the dignity of individuals are paramount. There must also be a fair legal system that guarantees the common good and individual rights with these new changes. We all want a better, more humane, and just society. We are also aware that such a world risks neglecting humanity and society may become cold and inhumane.

In this dynamic and constantly changing world, it is ever more difficult to find spaces for reflection and forums for dialogue where the problems in our changing society can be rigorously studied and solutions sought objectively and rationally. Undoubtedly, certain free spaces can still be found in our universities, institutions which go back over a hundred years, but still have a fundamental role in generating and circulating ideas and in fostering intellectual progress in our society.

Human dignity always seems appealing. We see that even when the world around us transforms, man always remains the same. Even today we can read classic works of Greek or Roman literature, and be moved by scenes from antiquity, as if they happened today. We discover timeless values, which we must preserve. Moreover, we must know and protect the individuals, who were, are and will be the true protagonists in our society.

Humans are permanent and always deserve special attention and consideration.

In recent times, in light of a recession, pandemic, and war, we may tend to regard people as just vulnerable and limited. We have all met people in drastic situations and have witnessed different forms of suffering in many families. Pain has probably also made us stop and reflect on where we are and where we are going. Any initiative for reflecting on man and his dignity today helps human progress and should always be welcome. This is especially true if it is from a seminar at the prestigious Harvard University whose theme is human dignity, vulnerability, and social justice.

Respecting human rights is the duty of us all and is non-negotiable.

We must all help lift up the dignity of people. Moreover, we must defend them with conviction. It is incumbent upon all of us to denounce the in-

18

Daniel Sánchez Mata

justice and oppression that undoubtedly abound in our society, especially that which affects the weakest and most vulnerable. If human rights are not respected, our society may regress rather than advance.

The Complutense Real Colegio at Harvard University (RCC-HU), which I have the honor of directing, is an institution providing excellence in higher education. This stems from a special agreement signed in Madrid in 1990 between Complutense University in Madrid and Harvard University.

It is an open institution, which for over thirty years has acted as a bridge between Harvard University and Complutense University; recently, the university has added various other partner universities in Spain to its Harvard agreement. It is also a valuable bridge between cultural institutions in the Americas, Europe, and Spain. One activity the Real Colegio organizes is high-level international conferences and seminars covering all academic and scientific fields.

I have met many Spanish professors and researchers who have moved to Harvard University to study the new challenges posed today. Nowadays, there is an ever greater need in society to ask questions, seek answers, propose new initiatives and pave the way towards a better world, one that is worth building. This is one of the missions of the university, one which can be very fruitful.

The RCC-HU Study Group Studies on Life and Human Dignity, has had a short but fruitful teaching and research history. It was founded in 2014 on the initiative of the former director of the Real Colegio, Professor José Manuel Martínez Sierra and the director of this research Group, Complutense University Professor José María Puyol Montero. Since then it has already organized nine international seminars. Every year, this group brings together renowned professors from prestigious European and American universities in a seminar to discuss the crucial topic of human dignity and law. The event sponsors are some well-known institutions at Harvard Law School, such as the Institute for Global Law and Policy, directed by the famous Professor David Kennedy, and the Criminal Justice Policy Program at Harvard University, under the direction of the prestigious Professor Carol Steiker. The latter is also co-director of the RCC-HU research Group Studies on Life and Human Dignity. In Spain, ‘la Caixa Foundation’ and the Valencian publisher ‘Tirant lo Blanch’ are also regular sponsors.

Professor José María Puyol has also coordinated this book and invited me to write the preface for it, which is a great honor for me. As director of the RCC-HU Study Group Studies on life and Human dignity, the professor has spent many years researching human dignity and law. When a new

Prologue

19

book comes out, it always heralds a small event in itself and is good news.

We all know that creating a book entails many hours of work and significant individual and joint effort.

The book for which this is the prologue stems from one such international seminar sponsored by the RCC-HU. It was convened at Harvard Law School in 2021, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic the presential event could not be held then. To symbolize we were moving past the pandemic, in this volume some of the papers that were then planned have been compiled. They have now come to light thanks to the generosity of its authors and the support given by the prestigious Spanish publishing house Tirant lo Blanch. This book collates a remarkable body of work, all by prestigious European and American professors who have all rigorously studied various aspects of human dignity, vulnerability, and social justice. Moreover, they did so at Harvard University, where intellectual freedom has been admirably combined with academic excellence, and is second to none for serious and rigorous intellectual work.

This book contains eleven chapters on a wide range of topics, all of which are related to the core theme: human dignity. It discusses the philosophical notion of dignity, its irrevocability, human dignity in data protection, at work, in terms of vulnerability and at the end of human life. Its authors come from various fields of law and humanities with contributions from Romanists, legal historians, administrators, social work experts and legal philosophers as well as historians and philosophers. In all these works and their particular approaches there is a plea to uphold human dignity, especially in terms of vulnerability and human flaws. The devastating pandemic we have all suffered appears to have acted as a springboard for writing this book, which, as stated above, has entailed remarkable individual and collective effort.

All that is human should concern us all, and we can all contribute a great deal. This is the goal of this book: to nurture greater respect for human dignity and human rights. Therefore, we would like to congratulate the authors of this publication and its coordinator, Professor José María Puyol, for bringing it to light.

Daniel Sánchez Mata Director Real Colegio Complutense at Harvard University Cambridge, March 2022