“ Human beings cannot be expected to feel responsibility for the world unless, at the same time, their unique capacities of knowledge, will, freedom and responsibility are recognized and valued. ”
Pope Francis, Laudato si' (24 May 2015 ). copy citation
| Author | Pope Francis |
|---|---|
| Source | Laudato si' |
| Topic | responsibility freedom |
| Date | 24 May 2015 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | |
| Weblink | http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-fra... |
Context
“When the human person is considered as simply one being among others, the product of chance or physical determinism, then “ our overall sense of responsibility wanes ”. [96] A misguided anthropocentrism need not necessarily yield to “ biocentrism ” , for that would entail adding yet another imbalance, failing to solve present problems and adding new ones. Human beings cannot be expected to feel responsibility for the world unless, at the same time, their unique capacities of knowledge, will, freedom and responsibility are recognized and valued. 119. Nor must the critique of a misguided anthropocentrism underestimate the importance of interpersonal relations. If the present ecological crisis is one small sign of the ethical, cultural and spiritual crisis of modernity, we cannot presume to heal our relationship with nature and the environment without healing all fundamental human relationships.”
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