Analyzing the Interrelationship Between Self and Community: An Essay

This essay delves into the intricate interrelationship between the self and the community, exploring how they are fundamentally interconnected. It examines the principles of Catholic social thought (CST) as a framework for understanding this relationship, emphasizing concepts such as the dignity of the human person, the common good, and the importance of social responsibility. The essay discusses how CST principles contribute to human flourishing and the creation of a just society, highlighting the significance of global solidarity, stewardship of God's creation, and the preferential option for the poor. It further explores principles like subsidiarity and participation, emphasizing the rights and responsibilities of individuals within their communities. The analysis underscores the idea that the self and the community are mutually dependent, forming a cohesive whole where individual well-being is intertwined with the overall prosperity of society.

Interrelationship between Self and Community
Self and community are two distinct concepts that are inherently interrelated. The
relationship between these two concepts is metaphysical because individuals are the material
cause of a community. There is no community which can exist autonomously of individuals.
Besides, a community exist in order to serve the individuals within it but not the vice verse. The
relationship between the individual and the community is fundamental and forms the basis of
sociological and philosophical discussions (William, 2017). The relationship between individual
and community is mutually dependant. Besides, Catholic social thought (CST) is founded on the
conviction that “I am what I am, because of who we are.” Catholic social teaching thus
highlights principles that aid in demonstrating how these two concepts are intrinsically related.
The knowledge of these principles equips one with skills that are necessary for creating a just
society (William, 2017, p. 5). Moreover, principles such as the dignity of the human person and
the value of the common good will aid an individual in living quality professional and personal
life. The understanding of the self and community is the basis of skills needed to offer remedies
to challenges which result from shared responsibilities. The principles reflected by the Catholic
social thought thus contribute to building a prosperous community due to emphasizing the
importance of common good over individual good. The objective of the article, therefore, is to
illustrate the understanding of the principles of Catholic social thought about self and
community.
Human Being as a Social Animal
Man is understood as a social animal by nature. He/she is thought to be because
sociability is in his/her natural instincts. Besides, all qualities that are proper to man can only be
developed with a society. Qualities such rationality, language, personality, culture, works, and

play can only be nurtured in a human society. Furthermore, man achieve all his potential only
when in a human society hence the intrinsic relationship between man and society (William,
2017). Not only nature that compel man to be social but necessity too. All necessities which
make life worthwhile can only be achieved through collaboration with others; hence, the
interdependence of the individual and the society.
Human Flourishing
Human flourishing is founded on eudaimonistic understanding of happiness.
Eudaimonistic happiness refers to the inner joy an individual derive from self-actualization and
personal development. As a consequence, human flourishing focuses on living a meaningful life
which is direct by a defined purpose. Elements such as good health, purpose, contribution to
community development, and meaningful relationship constitute human flourishing (Michael,
2006).
Dignity of the Human Person
In the social thought of the Catholic Church, human life is God-given and sacred
therefore human dignity is based on societal moral vision. Besides, the understanding that human
person is created in God's image is a foundation to basic human dignity. Human dignity is thus
inalienable to every individual despite, colour, race, ethnicity, religion, economic status or any
other form of categorization. However, CST holds that a person acquires his/her full dignity only
in collaboration with others in a community (Michael, 2006, p. 109).
Principle of Common Good
The common good is conceptualized as the conditions that promote the survival of every
society. These settings entail resources, political, economic, religious, material, and cultural

factors. CST teaches that for the community to prosper, individuals in it must sacrifice their
some of their personal goals which negatively affect the community as a whole. This argument is
inspired by the conviction that, for smooth co-existence individuals must have limited rights to
ensure the good of all within the community. CST, further encourage individual to contribute to
the achievement of the common good. (Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, 2001, p. 6).
Universal Purpose of Goods
CST holds that God created global resources that are enough for every living human
person. As such, the resources in a given country or a community ought to be adequate and
enjoyed by individuals within that community. In addition, as co-creators with God individuals
have right to private property to ensure maximum utilization of the available resources. Finally,
each individual in a particular community has a right to the resources available to facilitate
his/her full realization (Thomas, 2015, p. 102).
Principle of Subsidiarity
CST designs this principle as an avenue to promote division and delegation of power within a
community. The concept, therefore, discourages concentration of power in one position. The idea
hence safeguards annihilation of the small power structures by the large power structures. It further
encourages full participation of an individual in solving issues affecting them as a community.
Besides, this principle promotes collaboration of institutions from the local, national, and
international levels to offer remedies to the challenges facing the world (Thomas, 2015, p. 102).
Global Solidarity
The principle calls for acknowledgment of all individuals as elements which constitute
the global family. Consequently, individual should not be discriminated on the basis of their
religion, colour, race, gender, political, ideology or cultural background. The principle further

affirms that any form of injustice committed against a fellow human person should and must be
interpreted as a crime perpetrated against the self. Individuals in the global community should
thus have the ability to identify with the situation of the others. The principle is threatened by
modern philosophies such as individualism and absolute capitalism (Bishops’ Conference of
England and Wales, 2010).
Stewardship of God’s Creation
The principle holds that after creation God bestowed on man the responsibility to take
care of creation. Individuals in a community are thus perceived as co-workers with God because
they work tirelessly to make use of God’s creation. Working to ensure maximum utilization and
continuity of God’s creation is referred to as stewardship of God’s creation. The principle,
therefore, challenges individuals, nations, and governments to evaluate on how well they
encourage the continuity of God-given resources. CST encourages individuals, nations, and
governments to co-exist harmoniously with God's creation and to preserve it for future
generations. Each person, therefore, has a responsibility to take care of the creation (Thomas,
2015, p. 81).
Promotion of Peace
CST advocates that each individual in a community should enjoy peace in all its aspects.
Peace entails co-operation, collaboration, mutual respect, diplomacy, and binding agreements.
However, the basic foundation of peace is justice to all within a community. Justice and peace
are two intrinsically connected concepts. In fact, where justice ceases, peace ceases because
justice breeds peace (Thomas, 2015, p. 100).
Preferential Option for the Poor

The principle of preferential option for the poor has its foundation in the principle of
common good and solidarity. CST advocates that individuals have a moral obligation to alleviate
the situation of the poor. Besides, it calls for government and the international community to
formulate policies which ensure the poor are incorporated to participate in economic activities to
alleviate their situation. The principle further teaches that an individual in a community with dire
needs requires immediate attention and assistance. Assisting the poor and the needy in a
community aids the community to advance uniformly (Thomas, 2015, p. 90). Policy makers in
economics, politics as well as social issues should thus be cognizant of the needs of the poor and
needy.
Principle of Participation
Every individual member of a community has inherent right to participate in the political,
cultural, and economic life of the community. Human dignity demands that each person in
society be accorded a chance to take part in the issue touching his or community. It is, therefore,
wrong for any group or individual to be excluded from participating on the issues affecting the
society. In conclusion, it is explicit from the principles discussed that self and community are
intrinsically related concepts which form a whole.

References
Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. (2001). Vote for the Common Good, Alive
Publishing Ltd., Stoke on Trent, 3-15. Available from:
www.cbcew.org.uk/content/download/34878/.../vote-for-common-good-2001.pdf. [10th
September 2017]
Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. (2010). Choosing the Common Good, Alive
Publishing Ltd., Stoke on Trent, 3-19. Available from:
www.cbcew.org.uk/content/download/34851/.../choosing-the-common-good-2010.pdf.[10th
September 2017]
Michael, P.H. (2006). An Introduction to Catholic Social Thought. Cambridge University Press,
Cambridge, 104-112.
Module 1 - The Good Life and the Golden Rule. Available from:
https://leocontent.acu.edu.au/items/8e8cfd0c-0c07-4862-92c1-118b46d203d4/0/pdf/M1-
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Module 4 - Human Flourishing and the Common Good.Available from:
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Thomas, M. SJ. (2015). Catholic Social Teaching in Action. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers,
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William, B. (2017) "Ten Building Blocks of Catholic Social Teaching," 1998. 1-6.