Paste your essay in here…Principles of Catholic Social Thought
Catholic Social Thought consists of nine fundamental principles. Together, these core principles implement a Catholic understanding of how individuals and the role of societies are interrelated.
1. Dignity of the Human Person
This principle recognises the virtuousness and value of life as well as the dignity and self-respect of every individual person. It also establishes that the disadvantaged and less fortunate have fair access to fundamental needs and requirements to flourish in life (Australian Catholic Social Justice Council [ACSJC], 2017).
This theorem is a value that supports the promotion of human rights, focusing on those who lack access to essential services such as education and health care, in conjunction with individuals who do not have the opportunity to engage in community activities (ACSJC, 2017.)
It is the obligation of the human person to take responsibility of not only recognising the potent members of society, but to also recognise the feeble members and how our behaviour might impact on their understanding of human dignity and self-respect. (FTPbroadcasts, 2013)
2. The Common Good
This ideal encapsulates the belief that everyone shares a human person’s physical, spiritual, social and mental necessities. This principle also acknowledges that the needs of all people are met. This can be done through an individual sacrificing their interest and needs to enhance the accomplishment of common life between societies. (ACSJC, 2017). In turn, this promotes human flourishing and respect for all.
This principle highlights the importance of institutions, nations and communities to aim to reinforce the pursuit of flourishing and fulfilment of all humans.
3. Preferential Option for the Poor
The principle of Preferential Option for the Poor entitles the idea of creating a world where justice is more prevalent and includes the importance of Christian charity. The importance of those who are marginalised and who are lacking the basic needs to survive are the focal point of this principle as it is a hindrance to human flourishing. (FTPbroadcasts, 2013).
This convention is not just about charity, it emphasises the idea of creating a society where our social and political systems are fair and includes the suffering. It is about providing a sustainable and efficient life for each human person (Bryon, 1998).
4. Subsidiarity
This principle of subsidiarity encompasses the theory that individuals who are affected by a decision have the right to be involved in the decision-making process. (FTPbroadcasts, 2013). This principle also entails that communities and people who are affected personally and organisationally are highly encouraged to participate in the procedure (ACSJC, 2017).
Nomination of a superior authority figure is only supported when the issue is too large or challenging for a smaller authority figure to handle (BlogactivTV, 2010). This is linked to the understanding that empowerment of individuals and institutions to oversee their own decisions is essential for flourishing.
5. Universal Purpose of Goods
Universal Purpose of Goods explains how everyone has the right to goods and resources that are provided on Earth, regardless of who possesses them. The main purpose of this concept is to promote human flourishing and everyone has the human right to have access to the goods and services they require for fulfilment of life (Catholics In Coalition for Justice and Peace, 2011).
6. Stewardship of Creation
Stewardship of Creation incorporates the notion that we have a duty to protect and care for Earth and the environment it supplies us, as an unhealthy environment leads to the deprivation of human flourishing. This responsibility placed on societies and humans celebrates the life of our ancestors and respects the gift of Earth and its creations to humanity (FTPbroadcasts, 2013).
7. Promotion of Peace
Promotion of Peace includes the absence of war and violence, but the foundation of this principle involves justice and human dignity. This principle involves individuals, organisations and countries working in partnership to eradicate injustice and promote the common good (FTPbroadcasts, 2013).
8. Participation
This principle highlights the importance placed on the duty and right to participate in society and the community. Catholic Social Thought places a high importance on the obligation of contributing to cultural, social and political life of a community (Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, 2004).
9. Global Solidarity
The global solidarity principle identifies that humanity needs to unite as one community. It underlines the duty of care needed to support one another despite race, gender and ethnicity as well as eluding to the objective of global society recognising the marginalised and vulnerable (ACSJC, 2017).
The Correlation Between Self and Community
The interrelationship between self and community is clearly seen through the Principles of Catholic Social Thought. This idea shows the natural linkage the principles have with Ubuntu. Ubuntu states that “I am what I am because of who we all are” [ACU, 2017). Us as humans are connected and form a “greater whole”. The true African Spirit of Ubuntu declares that people have become what they are from “participating in relationships with others” and that humans cannot survive on this earth in solitude (TempletonPrize, 2013).
Human Flourishing
The notion of flourishing is a key approach to describing the relationship between Self and Community. Humanity must be physically, emotionally, socially and rationally balanced for optimal human flourishing (Gilkey, 2008). Relationships with friends, family and in employment facilities supports the needs of individual flourishing. The Greek philosopher Aristotle developed a perspective on flourishing which is widely respected. He states that to achieve flourishing, humans must achieve virtue. Virtues can be described as actions that portray the balance of two extremes in behaviour. Truthful is the mean between boastful and self-deprecating (Australian Catholic University [ACU], 2017). People who portray some of these behaviours can live a virtuous life which ultimately leads to human flourishing. The relationship between self and community becomes important in Aristotles’ perspective on flourishing. A community that has eudaimonia causes an underlying influential effect on individual flourishing.
Humanity and Social Existence
Human flourishing relies on the thriving of a community as they are social beings. Aristotle encapsulates his belief when he expresses “mankind is a social creature” (Duncan, 2012). Catholic Social Thought, Aristotle and Ubuntu all share the common theme that humans are a species that thrive on socialising in communities and between one another. Globally, the affiliation between us as humans defines our ability to flourish. To be an individual is to have a connection with your community. This interrelationship between self and community is the foundation for flourishing. A community is unable to flourish unless its members are and an individual cannot flourish unless the society they are part of is flourishing.
Principles of CST, Individual and Community Flourishing
The principles of Catholic Social Thought aim to achieve human flourishing and seek to support and nourish the relationship between mankind and society.
The principles Dignity of the Human Person, The Common Good, Subsidiarity and Preferential Option for the Poor all support the notion of the importance of maintaining interrelationships between individuals and their communities.
At the heart of these principles is the golden rule; “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (ACU, 2017). The golden rule aims to achieve worldwide flourishing for all as humanity often requires others in satisfying their desires.
The ideal the Common Good is imperative to promote community flourishing as it states that one must sacrifice self-interest to provide for basic human needs of everyone. This will compose neighbourhoods of flourishing. Preferential Option for the Poor Principle is addressed in the golden rule as acknowledging the vulnerable, portrays how you would like to be treated. Flourishing citizens have an overall effect on improving the health and wellbeing of a community.
Society and flourishing can only exist when a human depends on the flourishing of another human. Each individual forms a dimension of the global society and Catholic Social Thought aims to share their universal social philosophy, teaching communities and humanity the importance of global unity.