Existimatio as "human dignity" in late-classical Roman law

Even though there are similarities between the two notions, in antiquity the term dignitas generally speaking does not have the same meaning as our modern idea of "human dignity". However, there is a possibility that for "human dignity" some Roman jurists actually used a term different from dignitas, namely existimatio. This article examines whether the term existimatio in the work of one Roman jurist in particular may be seen as akin to our modern conception of "human dignity", and, if so, what the scope and origin of existimatio in the late-classical Roman legal sources were.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Giltaij,Jacob
Format: Digital revista
Language:English
Published: Southern African Society of Legal Historians and Unisa Press 2016
Online Access:http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1021-545X2016000200003
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