Analyzing Catholic Social Thought: Principles and Self-Community Bond

This essay delves into the core principles of Catholic Social Thought (CST), focusing on human dignity, solidarity, and the common good. It emphasizes the intrinsic value of human life and the importance of maintaining individual dignity within society. The essay discusses how materialism can under...Read More

Running head: PRINCIPLES OF CATHOLIC SOCIAL THOUGHT
PRINCIPLES OF CATHOLIC SOCIAL THOUGHT
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1PRINCIPLES OF CATHOLIC SOCIAL THOUGHT
The principles of Catholic Social Thought (CST) discusses the various principles
which are the guidelines in addressing, the problems associated with unequal distribution of
wealth in our society. It helps the people to work based on logic and reason, and this will help
to create a just society for the future. The principles and doctrines are very much a guiding
force, in creating an equal social sphere of human liberty and societal concerns. This
particular article discuss the principles of dignity of the human being, solidarity with others in
the society and the greater common good which must prevail in our society (Christie, Gunton
& Hejnowicz, 2019). This topic discussion tries to put light on association which occurs in
between person and public in the society.
The human dignity is the basic and main principle of Catholic social thought. In
today’s present world scenario, the concept of materialism has grasped all of us. It ultimately
paves the concept of demeaning and declining human life. The CST principles stresses on the
basic fact which says human beings life are the most sacred thing on this universe, and the
maintenance of the dignity of any individual, sets the perfect honorable vision in our society
(Brady, 2017). It must be mentioned that there exist purity with the human life and self-
esteem is inevitable with the human life. The major outcomes which the principles helps to
bring out is that each and every individual are born inside the reflection of the God itself, and
everyone in the the social order, have been empowered with the human self-esteem
(Thompson, 2015).
The principle of Mutual Good which is a very important part of Catholic principles
and Social Thought ideals, stress on the presence or existence of a global culture which
mainly engulfs itself with the sole concept of individualism. The society is indeed having
effects, of the presence of the different institutions of the society. The various forces which
can affect the growth of individuals exist in our society. The Government can always lend a
helping hand protecting and helping in the betterment process of human life, as specified by

2PRINCIPLES OF CATHOLIC SOCIAL THOUGHT
the Catholic Church. This ultimately plays a vital role in the promotion of a common good in
the society (Novak 2017). Each and every individual in the society have the particular duty to
sacrifice something in life so that a poor or disadvantaged person of the society can be
benefitted from it. The definite changes must be brought about only by human beings, by
changing some patterns in their specific lifestyle and consumption which ultimately help to
govern the society. The identification of any person in the building a civil society, paves the
self-development of the human being. It is the responsibility of the whole society in serving
the people and maintenance of order in the society. It is the family where any individual of
our society learns the entire process of how any human being should be, how they will serve
the society, and better the living conditions of the people around them (Christie, Gunton &
Hejnowicz, 2019). The link in between the individual life and the principles and their effect
on our society and community, is the family life which acts a guiding force.
The next important principle is the solidarity principle, which mentions that all human
lives are part of a single family life irrespective of any indifferences arising out of the racial
or even ideological difference. The principle of Solidarity mentions that humans must love
their neighbors and so that it can have broader impact (Brady, 2018). This can lead to a
change in the global changes happening in the entire universe. The universal feeling of
brotherhood among the brothers and sisters of our society, can help in fostering achievement
of welfare of the entire human race. Solidarity continuously helps to determine and help
promotion of common good in our society.
The success of a particular group over the individual is indicative of the Ubuntu
philosophy. It is similar to that of the African philosophical belief, and understanding the
nature and characteristics of individuals compared to the outside world as well (Rauhut,
2017). The fact must be known that around is a particular bond in between personalities and
the society they are living in. The particular individual who believes in the philosophy of

3PRINCIPLES OF CATHOLIC SOCIAL THOUGHT
Ubuntu, always try to behave in a proper, hospitable way with generosity towards the fellow
members of the society. In today’s world of modernization and globalization, the people who
follows Ubuntu can ultimately lead to achieve a respectable position in the society.
The core of the CST principle mentions the fact that there exists specific relationship
between self and community. The human beings who have a specific dignity of character can
ultimately be contributory in serving the individuals of our humanity and work towards more
increase in common good of the community. The promotion of solidarity and equal
opportunity among all members of our society are working towards a common good. The
solidarity in the society and its members can be expressed in terms of economic as well as
religious institutions, ultimately helping to shape the society (Christie, Gunton and
Hejnowicz, 2019). If the individuals wholeheartedly participate in activities within the
society, then the overall good can be promoted. Today, in our society, we all try to strive on
the basis of individualism, but if we follow catholic social thought it says that harmony in our
society can support in the general growth (Fernandez & de la Cruz, 2019). Each and every
person in the society, in the process of being filled with the desire of helping the individuals
with disadvantageous position in our society. Also the noble quality of self-respect which can
in turn pave the way for common good and can bring solidarity in our society.
Catholic Social Thought thus defines and explains the Catholic social doctrines,
which are a set of guidelines and social concepts, which can rightfully help in talking the
oppression in our society. The life of each individual in the society is one of the most sacred
things in our society. The individual dignity which the individuals have, in the society can
guide a proper set of moral vision for the in the society, which can eventually lead to the
growth and development in the society. There is the strong trend, and promotion of global
culture, which can emerge from continuous practice of individualism prevalent in our society.
The dignity of human beings in the process of societal development can increase. Following

4PRINCIPLES OF CATHOLIC SOCIAL THOUGHT
the concept and philosophy of Ubuntu, if one individual continuously tries to uplift the
disadvantaged and poor and oppressed people in the society, ultimately it will lead to social
development, allowing the individual development and human development of social as well
as moral being. The new better society can be formed by individual capacity of the people,
their personal contribution towards the future. The human being is one, and exists in the
society irrespective of any individual problems or differences, the singular privileges that
exist inside the the social order, can be very much helpful in promoting social good among
the people of the society. The principles of Catholic Social Thought understands, and helps in
the entire society to define the relationship between, self and the community. The individuals
who has dignity in the character, helps instrumentally in serving better resolution, and serving
the common good for poor, oppressed people of our culture. The solidarity in between the
society both in terms of economic condition and social betterment is the core principle behind
the thinking of Catholic Social Thought. It is the duty of human beings to bring about the
changes in the different lifestyle of the civil society, and the catholic thought explains that,
the building pertaining to civil culture, ultimately is responsible for promoting social good
and upliftment in the society.

5PRINCIPLES OF CATHOLIC SOCIAL THOUGHT
References
Brady, B.V., 2017. Essential Catholic Social Thought 2nd edition. Orbis Books.
Brady, B.V., 2018. From Catholic Social Thought to Catholic Social Living: A Narrative of
the Tradition. Journal of Catholic Social Thought, 15(2), pp.317-352.
Christie, I., Gunton, R.M. and Hejnowicz, A.P., 2019. Sustainability and the common good:
Catholic social teaching and ‘integral ecology’as contributions to a framework of
social values for sustainability transitions. Sustainability Science, pp.1-12.
Fernández, J.L.F. and de la Cruz, C.D., 2019. Catholic Social Thought and the Economy of
Communion as a Business Model. In Caring Management in the New Economy (pp.
115-137). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Novak, M., 2017. Catholic social thought and liberal institutions: freedom with justice.
Routledge.
Rauhut, A., 2017. Expanding motivations for global justice: A dialogue between public
Christian social ethics and Ubuntu ethics as Afro-communitarianism. Journal of
Global Ethics, 13(2), pp.138-156.
Thompson, J.M., 2015. Introducing catholic social thought. Orbis Books.