Preserving human dignity: Promises and pitfalls – a South African perspective

Abstract

The authors of this article contend that although the universal affirmation of human dignity remains an ambition whose vast dimensions would be exceedingly daunting for all but the truly visionary, reimagining contextual and contemporary emancipatory thinking has the potential to contribute towards alleviating the conditions and circumstances that threaten and debilitate human dignity. It is particularly noteworthy that developing countries, and their rural areas in particular, continue to be afflicted by a lack of access to basic needs such as adequate access to basic education, social development and housing.