What Exactly is Dignity?

Dignity is that which is "above all price". This is how the 18th century philosopher Immanuel Kant put it. A price is subject to market events - dignity, on the other hand, is something absolute. You cannot bargain for dignity. People have dignity. Always. Without preconditions. Even if they are ill. No matter what they do or what colour, religion, nationality or gender they are.

Dignity was also a central concept for our founder Robert Bosch. "Be human and respect human dignity" is one of his most famous quotes, first published in his company's employee magazine in 1920. Robert Bosch was not formulating a mandate for the state, but rather an aspiration for every human being - including himself.

Article 1 of our German Basic Law has guaranteed this right to human dignity for over 70 years. It obliges public authorities to respect and protect human dignity. Human beings may not be degraded to mere objects. This message of Article 1 stands as a general clause before all other fundamental rights. It is therefore the most important rule of the Basic Law and an obligation of the state.

At the Robert Bosch Stiftung, we are committed to a world in which all people can live in dignity, peace, and freedom. We work to advance equal opportunities in education and to promote a healthcare system that truly puts people first.
We believe in the ability of individuals, organizations, and societies to shape the future—even under challenging conditions—and we actively support them in doing so. Recently, we asked our partners a simple but essential question: how can each of us help protect the dignity of others?