This master’s thesis examines the relationship between law and humanity, exploring how law, as a system of norms, shapes the human being as a bearer of dignity, freedom, and integrity. It traces the historical development of this relationship—from antiquity to the instrumentalization of law under the totalitarian regimes of the twentieth century—and considers contemporary forms of inhumane practices that violate and disregard human dignity. Special emphasis is placed on the consequences of legal abuse at the expense of individual dignity, freedom, intimacy and privacy, and personal integrity, as well as on the post-war establishment of the international legal order.In the contemporary context, the thesis investigates the impact of digitalization, algorithmic decision-making, artificial intelligence, techno-surveillance, and the power of multinational corporations on the place of humanity within the legal sphere. Law performs multiple functions in society, including a humanistic function, which—although only one aspect of law—serves as a fundamental point of departure that must never be overlooked. The thesis critically assesses whether law in today’s digital age continues to uphold this humanistic function and whether it can act as a bridge between technological progress and the protection of human dignity. Ultimately, it argues that the relationship between law and humanity is undergoing a radical transformation—either toward dehumanization or toward the revitalization of humanity within the law.
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