Social Principles, Economics, and Christian Influence
Social Principles Summary
From the right guidance can be found social life. Since the reason you come to the same principles to reach the church. Coexistence is surrounded by: Love, Truth, and Justice. The principles guiding appropriate coexistence are few and universal: Subsidiarity, Universal destination of goods, Common good, Participation, and Solidarity. The organic conception of social life. Each principle applies in a particular case, as the social event it covers. The reference point to be taken into account is the dignity of human beings, both in economics, as a family, such as politics, culture, etc. The church (Faith), in addition to reason, with the revelation that yields the response of Faith, discloses a reason beyond the observable. Human dignity (for the church) is the argument that man is the image of God or Christ (who is God made man).
Solidarity
In principle, uniformity and equality mean radicals of all men and all peoples in all times and spaces. As a moral virtue, solidarity is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good and the effort to achieve greater social cohesion. The principle of solidarity is equal to brotherhood because we are all equal. The role model of solidarity is Christ who died on the cross to give us life. Atheistic humanism has difficulty justifying why all human beings are equal, arguments that end in the same summit: death.
Health and Economy
The economy is the science that deals with the reasonable allocation of scarce resources to meet human needs alternatives. See what needs are a priority. See how to increase resources. The personalist principle states that the economy is geared to serve the people (universal distribution of goods). Healthcare is no longer a private problem and has become a public issue. The right to healthcare has become one of the top priorities of the state and must be recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948).
Program Services and Health Costs
- The restriction must be a last resort.
- There must be a consensus about the medical superfluity.
- The removal of the service shall apply to any society.
- It will ensure satisfactory care.
- This does not necessarily require the exclusion of optional additional services for those who can pay.
- The ultimate goal of the program should be the common good.
- The non-application of a potentially beneficial treatment should not be based on the view that the life of such a person is a social burden.
- A policy of restraint must undergo frequent periodic reviews.
Collectivist Economy
Cannot deny or ignore the role of the individual. “Man is the author, the middle and the end of all economic and social life.” Beware of the claim of total central planning on economic activity. It falls into the “fatal conceit” in the belief to have the power to decide for everyone. Historical experience has shown that this system fails to effectively fulfill the goals of economic activity themselves. Presents a serious error of anthropological character.
Capitalism
The freedom that liberalism claims to be always fully human freedom. Obedience to the truth is the first condition of freedom. The development of the free market needs a legal framework that would also serve social justice. The market is important but cannot meet by itself all human needs through its mechanisms. After the collapse of communism, is this the model to propose? It depends on what you mean by capitalism.
Christianity’s Roots
The church has assimilated and learned the best of all cultures (Greece, Rome, and Germanic tribes). The influence of the church in Western civilization was:
- The importance of the monastic tradition in the preservation and flourishing of culture.
- During the Middle Ages, the church developed in Europe the system of universities, which provided the framework for the extraordinary scientific revolution that would be produced.
- The importance in the transmission of Roman law and legal formulation of a coherent and complete body.
- The development of international law.
- The development of modern economic science.
- Social charity.
Kyoto Protocol and Climate Change
Climate Change: Increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons. These gases are trapping an increasing proportion of terrestrial infrared radiation, and it is hoped that will increase global temperature. Gas emission reduction by the main producers of these pollutants. Maximum limits are established to overcome within a period, exceeding any industry. If a country produces in excess, it must be evaluated for overall compensation to countries that produce less. Least developed countries sell to the more developed portions of the emission of these gases.