Charity in Truth 1: Integral Human Development
19/03/10 00:33 Filed in: Catholic
Social Teaching
"Integral
human development implies the advance towards the
true good of every individual, community and society,
in every single dimension of human life: social,
economic, political, intellectual, spiritual and
religious."
This vision of human society is a PROGRESSIVE vision. It's a vision based in the Gospels, in the Christian tradition, and in the natural law tradition stemming from St. Thomas Aquinas. It calls for the flourishing of human beings -- each and every one -- in all dimensions.
Benedict XVI defends and elaborates on this vision in his encyclical Charity in Truth. I originally approached this encyclical with skepticism. But it paints a truly impressive picture of what human society can be. The notion of integral human development recalls the best of Aristotle and the words of Wilhelm von Humboldt quoted by J. S. Mill: the purpose of society is the fullest development of the human person for every one.
This vision of human society is a PROGRESSIVE vision. It's a vision based in the Gospels, in the Christian tradition, and in the natural law tradition stemming from St. Thomas Aquinas. It calls for the flourishing of human beings -- each and every one -- in all dimensions.
Benedict XVI defends and elaborates on this vision in his encyclical Charity in Truth. I originally approached this encyclical with skepticism. But it paints a truly impressive picture of what human society can be. The notion of integral human development recalls the best of Aristotle and the words of Wilhelm von Humboldt quoted by J. S. Mill: the purpose of society is the fullest development of the human person for every one.