Article Self And Community On Principles †Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Principles Of Catholic Social Thought? Answer: Introducation Principles of Catholic Social Thought (CST) are related to Self and Community provides the characteristics that are ideal(leocontent.acu.edu.au, Catholic Teaching, Retrieved on 11th September 2017). The ideas of Catholic Social Though are interrelated and are able to draw critically regarding self and community encompassing complementarity of their principles with CST. It is able to explore ways in which human thrives for realising their potential. It allows development of capability to judge as a full potential to human beings under their circumstances. Ubuntu is an African word meaning a person is due to his or her own existence. Golden Rule is more prevalent in Western world means that one should conduct their behaviour as others are conducting themselves towards ones own self. It is also Ethics of Reciprocity that can be found in any religion, culture, ethical system with secular philosophy. Various researchers have developed several thoughts pertaining to the topic, the principl es distinctly can be evaluated as follows; Principle of Respect for Human Dignity: According to Catholic Teaching every person is taken as a creation of Gods image, as Jesus Christ(Massaro, 2015). Hence, every person deserves respect for himself or herself from the community that he lives in, simply for the virtue of being a human being. A person cannot be mistreated by community for factors as age, poverty, disability, race, lack of success or any other factors. Therefore, no person can be forfeited of their rights for being treated well as God has given them given them the right. The way in which society is organised in law, economics, politics, policy directly impacts human dignity and provides ways in which an individual can grow in a community. Principle of Respect for Human Life: A human being from conception to natural death has the right to constant dignity. Every human being deserves constant dignity for himself from the community he belongs, which is a moral vision for creation of good and justice for the society(Benhabib, 2008). Thus, here again there is an interrelatedness of the community to that of self, which attaches value to human life. Principle of Association: Human beings are not only sacred but also social which is why they are linked to a community. A human attaches himself to an essence of diversity of a community encompassing Father, Son and Spirit. God has three division but is only one, containing diversity which provides liveliness not division. An isolated individual has no existence and existence of self is essential by linking it to a specific community(Milner, 2008). Principle of Participation: Human beings rather than concentrating on self has duty as well as right towards shaping of the community. A community needs to strive together for well-being and common good for those who do not have privileges as poor and vulnerable(Anderson, 2010). Any human being is an integral part of the community, they take active part in political, socio-economic and cultural development of life. Human beings should not just learn from history rather help in shaping them. Principle of Preferential Option for Poor and Vulnerable: An individuals life is related to his community, hence needs to remove deepening divided between the rich and poor. The needs of the poor has to be met first prior to meeting desires that the rich people possesses(Cook, 2013). An individuals participation in a community makes it essential that he feels and takes some action for other members of the community as well. Interrelatedness amongst self and community members makes it essential to care and take course of action for each other. Principle of Solidarity: All human being belong to a particular community and hence shares a loving relationship in the community. Loving neighbors can provide a global dimension as it will resolve various misfortunes(leocontent.acu.edu.au, Catholic Teaching, Retrieved on 11th September 2017). It assures committing to a common good for all persons which is everyones responsibility. It is the moral test for the society as to how it caters to fundamental rights for protecting dignity. Economy in a community is built for its people hence needs to serve them in all possible ways. All workers possesses rights for gaining productive work, decent and fair wages as well as safe working conditions, with rights to join unions. Individuals possesses right to have private property as well as take economic initiative but with limits. An individual being an element of the community cannot possess huge wealth whereas another individual lacks basic necessities for living. Catholic teaching is in fav or of collective approach. Principle of Subsidiary: A societys success is determined by ways in which it can assess help or support for an unaccomplished task. A state is created for benefit of individuals and community hence possesses a moral obligation. It acts as an instrument that promotes human dignity for protecting rights for creating greater common good. Every person has the right to take part in a political institution for enabling government to achieve its goals(Masolo, 2010). Government needs to function at the lowest level for delivering their effectiveness appropriately. When lower levels needs of the community cannot be satisfied then government needs to take action. Catholic teaching is in favor of peace with action-oriented concepts that can be promoted by means of confidence and mutual respect amongst nations and its people. Collaboration and justice arrangement amongst individuals will help create an ambience of peace and harmony which is dependent on rights of human beings. Principle of Human Equality: As discussed earlier that every human being deserves to be treated with dignity and respect as he is an image of God(leocontent.acu.edu.au, Catholic Teaching, Retrieved on 11th September 2017). Therefore, following from the same discussion it can be said that equality is the basic right for all human beings. Thus, every individual needs to participate in political, cultural, economic life of a society for prevailing human dignity. All individual having a minimum level of participation in the society can help develop it on a whole or exclude it unfairly. There is a notion that free market conditions will lead to justice but it cannot be relied upon. Free market as well as competition are elements of economic systems hence needs to be kept within limits. Principle of Common Good: In community is regarded as good when all its individuals flourish in all respects(Berns, 2012). Though this concept of common good seems to be missing in action, it becomes the moral principle for inherently creating a good society. Every individual is a part of a greater global human family, with responsibilities that are cross national, economic, ideological and racial. For global justice to prevail, there needs to be authentic development for promoting social, economic, personal, political justice along with rights of nations. Extreme underdevelopment needs to be avoided and also super development. Thus, all material and technical resources will yield no value in absence of cultural, moral and spiritual dimension of individuals. Reference Lists Anderson, D. L. (2010). A self-study on building community in the online classroom. Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research, 261-261. Benhabib, S. (2008). Another cosmopolitanism. . Oxford University Press. Berns, R. (2012). Child, family, school, community: Socialization and support. Nelson Education. Cook, E. D. (2013). The Common Good and Common Harm. The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly, 617-623. leocontent.acu.edu.au. (Retrieved on 11th September 2017). Catholic Teaching. https://leocontent.acu.edu.au/file/8e8cfd0c-0c07-4862-92c1-118b46d203d4/26/pdf/M1-TheGoldenRule.pdf. leocontent.acu.edu.au. (Retrieved on 11th September 2017). Catholic Teaching. https://leocontent.acu.edu.au/file/8e8cfd0c-0c07-4862-92c1-118b46d203d4/26/pdf/M2-IndividualAndSociety.pdf. leocontent.acu.edu.au. (Retrieved on 11th September 2017). Catholic Teaching. https://leocontent.acu.edu.au/file/8e8cfd0c-0c07-4862-92c1-118b46d203d4/20/pdf/M3-HistoryAndPrinciplesCST.pdf. Masolo, D. A. (2010). Self and community in a changing world. Indiana University Press. Massaro, T. (2015). Living justice: Catholic social teaching in action. . Rowman Littlefield. Milner, H. R. (2008). Disrupting deficit notions of difference: Counter-narratives of teachers and community in urban education. Disrupting deficit notions of difference: Counter-narratives of teachers and community in urban education, 1573-1598.