Lea Ypi on Dignity, History and Internet Trolls

*Indignity, A Life Reimagined* explores the nature of human dignity and the challenges of reconstructing personal history within the constraints of political archives. Philosophy professor Lea Ypi discusses her methodology, which blends historical research with a novelistic, multi-perspective narrative to challenge the "truth" contained in communist-era secret service files. The conversation examines the tension between structural historical forces and individual moral agency, positing that dignity is not a static status but an active, ongoing effort to uphold moral principles. By analyzing the life of her grandmother, Ypi argues that literature offers a vital, inclusive lens for uncovering the humanity of individuals often erased or misrepresented by bureaucratic records, ultimately framing truth-seeking as a pragmatic, collaborative process of correcting past exclusions and navigating complex moral dilemmas.