Justice and Human Dignity: A Comparative Study of Legal Theories in Philosophical and Literary Texts

Abstract

This comparative study examines the conceptual relationship between justice and human dignity as articulated in major philosophical and literary texts across different legal traditions. Through systematic analysis of works ranging from classical philosophical treatises to contemporary literary narratives, this research explores how conceptions of human dignity have shaped theories of justice and legal legitimacy. The study employs a comparative methodology examining Western liberal, natural law, critical theory, and non-Western philosophical traditions alongside literary works that engage with questions of legal authority and human worth. Findings reveal that while definitions of human dignity vary across cultural and temporal contexts, the concept consistently serves as a foundational principle for critiquing existing legal systems and proposing alternative frameworks for justice. The research demonstrates that literary texts often provide more nuanced and contextual understandings of dignity-based justice than purely philosophical treatises, offering insights into how abstract principles translate into lived experience. This study contributes to ongoing debates in legal theory by showing how interdisciplinary approaches can illuminate the practical implications of dignity-based jurisprudence and its role in contemporary legal reform movements.