Please disable your Ad Blocker to better interact with this website.

Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image

Affluent Christian Investor | January 29, 2023

Select a Page:
Select a Page:
Scroll to top

Top

Email Featured
No Comments

‘Dignitarian Harm’: The Newest Thought Police Rationalization

(Photo by Rama) (CC BY) (Resized/Cropped)

(Photo by Rama) (CC BY) (Resized/Cropped)

Occasionally I warn people who share my point of view (or at least some of my values, like the importance of freedom of speech) of something that, from my perch in academic life, I see coming over the horizon. I’m going to do that again now.

As the left (with notable honorable exceptions) veers further in the direction of authoritarianism (what Jonah Goldberg calls “liberal fascism”), you will begin to hear a word (and a phrase) that will be the touchstone of justifications for cracking down on speech that violates norms of political correctness by criticizing conduct or behavior that has been condemned as immoral or degrading by classical, religious, and natural law ethics.

The word is “dignitarian.”

The phrase is “dignitarian harm.”

It will be in the name of “dignitarian harm” (harm to people’s dignity) that more and more people will be fired from or excluded from employment, or denied business, or educational opportunities, or otherwise disadvantaged. Similarly, religiously affiliated academic institutions, health care providers, and social services agencies will be targeted for allegedly causing “dignitarian harm.”

We have here a matter on which libertarians and conservatives (and even old fashioned liberals) can and must unite. The concept of “dignitarian harm” as a justification for restricting civil liberties is profoundly dangerous. It is a rationalization for speech and thought policing. But it’s already appearing in law review articles and even legal briefs. It must not be permitted to gain a foothold in our jurisprudence.

 

Join the conversation!

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, vulgarity, profanity, all caps, or discourteous behavior. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain a courteous and useful public environment where we can engage in reasonable discourse.

Trending Now on Affluent Christian Investor

Sorry. No data so far.

Right Report

Pigskin Pundit’s Picks, Conference Championships
Clash Daily
Pigskin Pundit’s Picks, Conference Championships
So-Called ‘Fact Checkers’ Secretly Funded by George Soros
Conservative Firing Line
So-Called ‘Fact Checkers’ Secretly Funded by George Soros
Rubio Writes Pfizer CEO Over Alleged Purposeful Virus Mutation
The Floridian
Rubio Writes Pfizer CEO Over Alleged Purposeful Virus Mutation
Jerusalem Synagogue Attack: 7 Dead, 10 Wounded
Conservative Firing Line
Jerusalem Synagogue Attack: 7 Dead, 10 Wounded
FDA Says Getting The COVID Booster And Flu Shot On The Same Day Can Raise Stroke Risk
Clash Daily
FDA Says Getting The COVID Booster And Flu Shot On The Same Day Can Raise Stroke Risk

What We’re Looking At Today

  • Full video: Jordan Peterson on the Channel 4 Controversy and Philosophy of "How to be in the World"
    January 28th, 2018
  • Be Grateful for the Intelligent Design of Your Eyes
    December 23rd, 2017
  • TAX REFORM: The Most Important Things You Need to Know
    December 22nd, 2017
  • What Is 6th Gear? » Intermittent Fasting And Keto
    December 18th, 2017
  • DiscoveryInstitute
    December 7th, 2017
  • The King’s Choice – SAMUEL GOLDWYN FILMS
    October 12th, 2017

    • Follow Us

    Facebooktwitterrss

    Like us on Facebook

    Affluent Investor

    The Affluent Mix

    Become An Insider!

    Sign up for Affluent Investor's free email newsletter and receive a free copy of our report, "The Christian’s Handbook For Transforming Corporate America."