Respect and Dignity Linked to Self-Respect

Respect for others is not based on any sense of inferiority in one's self, instead it is based on something entirely opposite i.e. An ability to respect one's self and to see ourselves just as worthy of love and respect as anyone else. When a person extends respect to another human being, he demonstrates humility, acceptance and also proves that respect for others is a reflection of the kind of respect a person has in himself. This is not just hogwash but is a documented truth that has been reiterated by thinkers often. For example Powers and Faden (2008) write, "Respect for others is closely linked to self-respect. A capacity for self-respect involves an individual's capacity to see oneself as the moral equal of others and as an independent source of moral claims based on one's own dignity and worth. "(p. 22)

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