The Problems of Moral Responsibility towards Future Generations in Catholic Social Teaching: Making a Philosophical Approach Cover Image

K problematice morální odpovědnosti vůči budoucím generacím v sociálním učení církve: Pokus o filosofický přístup
The Problems of Moral Responsibility towards Future Generations in Catholic Social Teaching: Making a Philosophical Approach

Author(s): Vojtěch Šimek
Subject(s): Theology and Religion
Published by: Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci
Keywords: Moral Responsibility; Future Generations; Intergenerational Justice; Rights of Future Persons; Catholic Social Teaching; Laudato si’

Summary/Abstract: The author assumes that it is worthwhile to approach Catholic Social Teaching from a philosophical standpoint. He analyses whether and how in the selected passages the term "responsibility (towards future generations)" is presented as relational and in at least three parts (Chapter 1). He deals with the issue of differentiation of the term "future generations" and with the problem of the rights of future persons (Chapter 2). Finally, the author reflects upon the two main theses of concept of intergenerational justice from the encyclical Laudato si’ while investigating the meaning of the ultimate instance of respon¬sibility and sanctions, using the mental experiment inspired by the encyclical (Chapter 3). The author concludes that in Catholic Social Teaching the notion of "moral responsibility (towards future generations)" is usually implicitly presented as at least in three parts, but not always and not clearly. He suggests a basic differentiation of the term "future gene-rations" and defends the thesis that we can be currently bound by the rights of future persons although these do not exist yet. According to the author, the mental experiment leads to theological insights into the meaning of the ultimate instance of responsibility and of personal immortality, namely already when we assume the philosophically plausible precondition of the possibility of sanctions.

  • Issue Year: XIX/2017
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 143-165
  • Page Count: 23
  • Language: Czech