Encyclical Laudato si’ on the Question of Progress

Progress is one of the most recognizable characteristics of modern times. The present paper addresses the question of progress as the underlying theme of the encyclical Laudato si'. Progress has both good and bad sides. The latter are expressed in terms that have a fundamental significance to t...

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Main Author: Witold Kania
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Uniwersytet Kardynała Stefana Wyszyńskiego w Warszawie 2020-03-01
Series:Studia Ecologiae et Bioethicae
Subjects:
Online Access:https://czasopisma.uksw.edu.pl/index.php/seb/article/view/6118
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author Witold Kania
author_facet Witold Kania
author_sort Witold Kania
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description Progress is one of the most recognizable characteristics of modern times. The present paper addresses the question of progress as the underlying theme of the encyclical Laudato si'. Progress has both good and bad sides. The latter are expressed in terms that have a fundamental significance to the encyclical, such as, “irrational faith in progress” and “the myth of unlimited material progress”. In order to gain a clearer understanding of those terms, the author begins with outlining the history of the idea of progress and the philosophical criterion for its assessment. Then, he provides a critical analysis of the technocratic paradigm embodying the false face of progress. Within this framework, progress is presented as imperative and unlimited. However, by placing man in the centre and reducing his purpose in life to a relativistic principle “use and throw away”, it leads to a global ecological, spiritual and cultural crisis. The following part of the paper is devoted to a new model of progress proposed by Pope Francis. This type of progress has both a vertical and horizontal dimension. Embedded in the Holy Trinity, it reaches its peak in Jesus Christ and it promotes human life and protects the work of creation. Its fruit is to be individual concern for the poor and greater justice between nations. It cannot be achieved without changing the mentality (conversion) and specific individual and political decisions. The last part of the article answers the question about the novelty of the model of progress proposed by Pope Francis.
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spelling doaj-art-f5c47917ffc74e9db8aa924fe3e7524b2025-02-02T03:47:58ZengUniwersytet Kardynała Stefana Wyszyńskiego w WarszawieStudia Ecologiae et Bioethicae1733-12182020-03-0118110.21697/seb.2020.1.04Encyclical Laudato si’ on the Question of ProgressWitold Kania0Faculty of Theology, University of Silesia in Katowice,Progress is one of the most recognizable characteristics of modern times. The present paper addresses the question of progress as the underlying theme of the encyclical Laudato si'. Progress has both good and bad sides. The latter are expressed in terms that have a fundamental significance to the encyclical, such as, “irrational faith in progress” and “the myth of unlimited material progress”. In order to gain a clearer understanding of those terms, the author begins with outlining the history of the idea of progress and the philosophical criterion for its assessment. Then, he provides a critical analysis of the technocratic paradigm embodying the false face of progress. Within this framework, progress is presented as imperative and unlimited. However, by placing man in the centre and reducing his purpose in life to a relativistic principle “use and throw away”, it leads to a global ecological, spiritual and cultural crisis. The following part of the paper is devoted to a new model of progress proposed by Pope Francis. This type of progress has both a vertical and horizontal dimension. Embedded in the Holy Trinity, it reaches its peak in Jesus Christ and it promotes human life and protects the work of creation. Its fruit is to be individual concern for the poor and greater justice between nations. It cannot be achieved without changing the mentality (conversion) and specific individual and political decisions. The last part of the article answers the question about the novelty of the model of progress proposed by Pope Francis.https://czasopisma.uksw.edu.pl/index.php/seb/article/view/6118progressLaudato si’Pope Francistechnological paradigmecological conversion
spellingShingle Witold Kania
Encyclical Laudato si’ on the Question of Progress
Studia Ecologiae et Bioethicae
progress
Laudato si’
Pope Francis
technological paradigm
ecological conversion
title Encyclical Laudato si’ on the Question of Progress
title_full Encyclical Laudato si’ on the Question of Progress
title_fullStr Encyclical Laudato si’ on the Question of Progress
title_full_unstemmed Encyclical Laudato si’ on the Question of Progress
title_short Encyclical Laudato si’ on the Question of Progress
title_sort encyclical laudato si on the question of progress
topic progress
Laudato si’
Pope Francis
technological paradigm
ecological conversion
url https://czasopisma.uksw.edu.pl/index.php/seb/article/view/6118
work_keys_str_mv AT witoldkania encyclicallaudatosionthequestionofprogress