Human dignity is the central value of our ethics and our laws. Now, at last, it has gained recognition and become enshrined in law, and is now regarded as the most important of all human rights. But why has this understanding of human dignity taken so long to come about? And why does it occupy this special position? What is human dignity, anyway? And what constitutes a violation of it? Finally: what are the implications of putting it into practice in our moral codes and laws? This brilliant introduction by legal philosopher Dietmar von der Pfordten is a must-read for anyone wanting to gain a better understanding of human dignity as the top priority for ethics, law and the state.