Betraying Dignity: The Toxic Seduction of Social Media, Shaming, and RadicalizationWhat do medieval knights, suicide bombers and "victimhood culture" have in common? Betraying Dignity argues that in the second decade of the twenty-first century, individuals, political parties and nations around the world are abandoning the dignity-based culture we established in the aftermath of two world wars, less than a century ago. Disappointed or intimidated, many turn their backs on the humanitarian, universalistic culture that presumes our inherent human dignity and celebrates it as the basis of every individual's equal human rights. Instead, people and nations are returning to a much older, honor-based cultural structure. Because its ancient logic and mentality take new forms (such as social network shaming and certain aspects of "victimhood culture") -- we fail to recognize them, and overlook the pitfalls of the old honor-based structure. Narrating the history of honor-based societies, this book distinguishes their underlying principle from the post-WWII notion of dignity that underlies human rights. It makes the case that in order to revive and strengthen dignity-based culture, the concept of human dignity must be defined narrowly and succinctly, and enhanced with the principle of respect. Continuing its historical and cultural narrative, the book discusses contemporary phenomena such as al-Qaeda terrorists, shaming via social network, FoMO, and some features of the emerging "victimhood culture". The book pays homage to Erich Fromm's classic Escape from Freedom. |
Contents
1 Escape from Dignity to Honor | 1 |
2 The Honor Game | 17 |
3 Divine Human Glory | 49 |
4 The Concept of Dignity That Underlies Human Rights | 73 |
5 Respect | 107 |
6 Escape from Dignity and Respect | 131 |
| 167 | |
| 173 | |
About the Author | 181 |
Other editions - View all
Betraying Dignity: The Toxic Seduction of Social Media, Shaming, and ... Orit Kamir No preview available - 2019 |
Betraying Dignity: The Toxic Seduction of Social Media, Shaming, and ... Orit Kamir No preview available - 2023 |
Common terms and phrases
accept according achieve acknowledged become believe Campbell century chapter choice Christian claim codes collective common competition concept conduct Connectivity consider constitute contemporary course defined derive determined dignity and respect discussion distinction divine divine human English equal escape established European example existence fact feel freedom fundamental fundamental human rights gain glory God’s God’s Image Hebrew hence hierarchy honor culture honor societies honor-based human dignity human rights idea identity important individual inherent interest less liberal lives logic manifesting means merely moral Muslim nature norms notion offense offer perhaps person political positive presented principle rank realization recognition reference regarding requires Rise role rules seems sense shame social social media specific standing status structure suggest term tion traditional UDHR UDHR’s United University Press victimhood culture virtual whereas worth