Thursday 15 July 2010

Sacks (4 of 5): On Dignity And Independence

“Moral equality is the postulate that all persons have the same intrinsic worth. They are unequal in talents, in contributions to social life and in valid claims to rewards and resources. But everyone who is a person is presumptively entitled to recognition of that personhood” (Philip Selznick)

“The highest degree, exceeded by none, is that of the person who assists a poor person by providing him with a gift or a loan or by accepting him into a business partnership or by helping him find employment-in a word by putting him where he can dispense with other people’s aid. With reference to such aid it is said, ‘You shall strengthen him, be he a stranger or a settler, he shall live with you’ (Lev 25:35), which means strengthen him in such a manner that his falling into want is prevented. (Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Gifts to the Poor 10:7)

(from Jonathan Sacks 'A Jewish Perspective' contribution to "Making Globalisation Good", Oxford, Dunning, 2003)

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