Management, Labor, and the Development of the Human Person: Insights From the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
Review of Business › Vol. 27 Nbr. 2, April 2006
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Summary
Catholic Social Teaching offers a distinctive view of the human person, one which is often in conflict with the perspective of the American economic system. This article will demonstrate the vision that the Church offers, as exemplified in its recent Compendium, and suggest that current practices might be rethought to ensure that the dignity of each person is respected.
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Extract
Management, Labor, and the Development of the Human Person: Insights From the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
Introduction
Why do people work? What motivates human beings to engage in productive labor? Some might say that it is merely necessity; as St. Paul puts it, "Those who would not work shall not eat."1 Sometimes the need for a paycheck is a bit broader than just the desire to fill one's own belly - it may also include the wish to care for one's family, or at least the duty to do so. But is there ever anything else driving the need to work?Surely for some people there exists the desire to be involved in an enterprise greater than oneself, to live not just for oneself but also for the good of others. Other people may wish to develop their own talents, to discover the limits of their abilities, or to express themselves through a particular craft. In some cases, there may even be an aspiration to create, to devise something never previously imagined. The motives here are not necessarily pure, either - lurking behind may be a desire for wealth or fame.The point, however, is that there are any number of reasons why people work, whether it is merely to avoid starvation or respond to a duty, to express love for others, to engage in the life of the larger community, to develop oneself, or to serve h...See the full content of this document
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