Kontakt: Saulo de Matos

Projekt am Centre:

Foundations of Modern Slavery: Between Consent and Exploitation

The project "Foundations of Modern Slavery: Between Consent and Exploitation" investigates the philosophical and legal underpinnings of modern slavery, focusing on the tension between material and immaterial forms of slavery. It arises in response to recent legal cases, such as the lawsuit against Volkswagen in Brazil, and prevalence studies revealing alarming levels of labor exploitation in the Amazon. The research explores Brazil's unique legal approach, which combines physical and socioeconomic indicators to define slavery, contrasting with international frameworks that emphasize only immaterial coercion.

The project introduces an innovative approach by applying the negative theory of human dignity to modern slavery. Rather than focusing solely on consent or legal status, it examines slavery through the lens of humiliation and other forms of dignity violation, integrating material and immaterial dimensions of exploitation. This perspective bridges legal theory, moral philosophy, and empirical realities, offering a novel foundation for rethinking slavery today. Drawing on the works of Jay Bernstein and Étienne Balibar, the research seeks to redefine slavery beyond property and consent paradigms, linking it to conditions of humiliation and economic subjugation. It critiques the marginalization of slavery in global human rights discourse and proposes a reconceptualization that aligns with Brazil's jurisprudence and historical mobilizations. It ultimately seeks to produce a legal-philosophical framework that supports more comprehensive human rights protections and legislative action against modern slavery.

Forschungsinteressen:

Philosophie der Menschenrechte
Rechtsphilosophie
Geschichte der politischen Ideen
Kritische Theorie
Gerechtigkeitstheorie