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On Human WorkPope John Paul II

Introduction – Why Work

• To Earn daily bread• To Contribute to continual advance of science

and technology• To Elevate cultural and moral level of society

Introduction - Work

• Work means any activity by man• From the beginning, man is called to work– See the biblical references in the Introduction

• Work is one of the characteristics that distinguish man from the rest of the creatures

1. Human Work

• Man’s life – Is built up every day from work– Derives it’s specific dignity from work

• Work contains– Unceasing measure of human toil and suffering– Harm and injustice

1. Human Work – New Developments

• Technological– Automation– As big as the industrial revolution

• Economic– Cost of energy and raw materials

• Political– Emergence of people demanding their rightful

place among nations• Realization that heritage of nature is limited

1. Human Work - Conclusions

• Church should – call attention to the dignity and rights of those

who work– Condemn situations in which dignity and rights are

violated– Help guide above mentioned change to ensure

authentic progress by man and society.

2. In the Organic Development of theChurch's Social Action

• Work is as old as man and his life on earth• Modern world calls for discovery of new

meanings of human work• What new tasks face– Each individual– The Family– Each Country– The whole human race– The Church

2. In the Organic Development of theChurch's Social Action

• This section summarizes some of past communications on work and social justice.

• John XXIII's Encyclical Mater et Magistra, and Paul VI's Encyclical Populorum Progressio

• The disproportionate distribution of wealth and poverty and the existence of some countries and continents that are developed and of others that are not call for a leveling out and for a search for ways to ensure just development for all.

• More focus on world – less on class

3. The Question of Work, the Key tothe Social Question

• Human work is the key to “making life more human” (over simplified)

• Note analysis of “past work”• Note that this was published in 1981– Opinion: Very perceptive on impact of technology

and role of India and China.

4. In the Book of Genesis

• Work is a fundamental dimension of man’s existence on earth

• Fill the earth (visible universe) and subdue it.– All resources that can be discovered can be used

for man’s ends.• Each and every individual, to the proper

extent, takes part in the giant process whereby man "subdues the earth" through his work.

5. Work in the Objective Sense:Technology

• Man dominates the earth by domesticating animals and extracting resources

• Man subdues the earth by agriculture. • Human work in agriculture is a primary field of

economic activity and an indispensable factor of production

• Industry links the earth’s riches with man’s work (applies to research and service industries)

5. Work in the Objective Sense:Technology

• Man’s work has ceased to be mostly manual• The proper subject of work continues to be man

(not machines).• Technology is man’s ally but can cease to be man’s

ally.• The words “subdue the earth” undoubtedly include

also a relationship with technology, with the world of machinery which is the fruit of the work of the human intellect and a historical confirmation of man's dominion over nature

5. Work in the Objective Sense:Technology

• See below the paragraph of this section:• The recent stage of human history, especially that of certain

societies, brings a correct affirmation of technology as a basic coefficient of economic progress; but, at the same time, this affirmation has been accompanied by and continues to be accompanied by the raising of essential questions concerning human work in relationship to its subject, which is man. These questions are particularly charged with content and tension of an ethical and an ethical and social character. They therefore constitute a continual challenge for institutions of many kinds, for States and governments, for systems and international organizations; they also constitute a challenge for the Church.

6. Work in the Subjective Sense: Manas the Subject of Work

• As a person he works, he performs various actions belonging to the work process; independently of their objective content, these actions must all serve to realize his humanity, to fulfill the calling to be a person that is his by reason of his very humanity.

• Jesus was a carpenter (see next slide)

6. Work in the Subjective Sense: Manas the Subject of Work

• This circumstance constitutes in itself the most eloquent "Gospel of work", showing that the basis for determining the value of human work is not primarily the kind of work being done but the fact that the one who is doing it is a person. The sources of the dignity of work are to be sought primarily in the subjective dimension, not in the objective one.

6. Work in the Subjective Sense: Manas the Subject of Work

• The primary basis of the value of work is man himself, who is its subject

• Work is for man. Man is not for work.• Different sorts of work may have different

objective values• Each sort is judged by the measure of the

dignity of the subject of the work (the individual who carries it out)

6. Work in the Subjective Sense: Manas the Subject of Work

• It is always man who is the purpose of the work. (even monotonous or alienating work)

7. A Threat to the Right Order ofValues

• Opposes materialistic and economistic thought

• There is danger or repeating early capitalism and treating work as “merchandise” or as an impersonal “force” needed for production.

• Early capitalism treated man as an instrument of production and not in accordance with the true dignity of his work. (materialistic)

7. A Threat to the Right Order ofValues

• Materialistic civilization focuses on objective part of the work.

• Man’s “dominion over the earth” should find a central place in the whole sphere of social and economic policy– In individual countries– In international relationships– In intercontinental relationships• East vs. West, North vs. South

8. Worker Solidarity

• New forms of work appear; others dissappear– To what extent do ethically and socially dangerous

irregularities creep in• Worker Solidarity• reaction against the degradation of man as

the subject of work, and against the unheard—of accompanying exploitation in the field of wages, working conditions and social security for the worker

8. Worker Solidarity

• Economistic systems worked on the assumption that that human work is solely an instrument of production, and that capital is the basis, efficient factor and purpose of production.– Safeguarded activities of possessors of capital but

not the rights of workers

8. Worker Solidarity

• Results – new systems– Workers share in running the business• Law firm partnerships• German Boards – quarterly contracts

– Social Legislation• World wide communications make it possible

to see injustice wherever it may exist– Early industrialization– Agriculture

8. Worker Solidarity

• Solidarity is required in new areas– Intellectuals

• Wherever problems appear as a result of the violation of the dignity of human work: either because the opportunities for human work are limited as a result of the scourge of unemployment, or because a low value is put on work and the rights that flow from it, especially the right to a just wage and to the personal security of the worker and his or her family

9. Work and Personal Dignity

• After breaking the covenant with God, man heard the words “"In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread".

• Toil - doing physical work under sometimes exceptionally laborious conditions– Agriculture, mining, blast furnaces, dangerous

construction work.– Also doctors, nurses, homemakers

9. Work and Personal Dignity

• Work is a good thing for man and his humanity (in spite of toil, because of toil?)– Useful– Something to enjoy– Worthy. Increases dignity

• Through work, – Man transforms nature– Man achieves fulfillment as a human being.

• Implies industriousness is a virtue

9. Work and Personal Dignity

• It is possible to use work against man– Forced labor.

• Therefore, there is a moral obligation to link industriousness as a virtue with the social order of work. (avoid degrading man by work)

10. Work and Society: Family andNation

• Work constitutes a foundation for the formation of family life.

• Work and family values must be properly united

• Work and industriousness play a role in educating the family

• Family is made possible by work and is the “first school of work”.

10. Work and Society: Family andNation

• The society to which man belongs is also a great educator.

• Work serves to add to the heritage of the whole human family, of all the people living in the world.

On Human WorkPope John Paul II

• Work is marked in the course of history, and especially in recent centuries, by an immense development of technological means. This is an advantageous and positive phenomenon, on condition that the objective dimension of work does not gain the upper hand over the subjective dimension, depriving man of his dignity and inalienable rights or reducing them.