Hostname: page-component-669899f699-tpknm Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-05-06T17:19:04.504Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Human Dignity and The Dignity of Work: Insights from Catholic Social Teaching

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 May 2016

Alejo José G. Sison ,
Ignacio Ferrero  and
Gregorio Guitián
Alejo José G. Sison
Affiliation:
University of Navarra
Ignacio Ferrero
Affiliation:
University of Navarra
Gregorio Guitián
Affiliation:
University of Navarra
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract:

What contributions could we expect from Catholic Social Teaching (CST) on human dignity in relation to the dignity of work? This article begins with an explanation of CST and its relevance for secular audiences. It then proceeds to identify the main features of human dignity based on the notion of imago Dei in CST. Next comes an analysis of the dignity of work in CST from which two normative principles are derived: the precedence of duties over rights and the priority of the subjective dimension of work over the objective dimension. Afterwards, the “right to work” and the “rights of workers” are engaged with from this normative perspective, particularly within the context of globalization.

Keywords

human dignityCatholic Social Teachingdignity of workright to workglobalization
Type
Special Section
Information
Business Ethics Quarterly , Volume 26 , Issue 4 , October 2016 , pp. 503 - 528
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Business Ethics 2016 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

REFERENCES

Abbott, K. 2008. Catholic social thought and labouring ideals in Australia’s new industrial context. Journal of Industrial Relations, 50(1): 157–174.Google Scholar
Anscombe, G. E. M. 1958. Modern moral philosophy. Philosophy, 33: 1–19.Google Scholar
Aquinas, T. 1902. Liber contra impugnantes Dei cultum et religionem. In Proctor, J., O.P. (trans.), An apology for the religious orders. London: Sands & Co.Google Scholar
Aquinas, T. 1920. Summa Theologiae . Second and Revised Edition. Literally translated by Fathers of the English Dominican Province. Online Edition Copyright © 2008 by Kevin Knight. http://www.newadvent.org/summa/1029.htm (accessed October 1, 2015).Google Scholar
Aquinas, T. 1961. Summa contra gentiles . In Opera omnia santi Thomae Aquinatis doctoris angelici, t. 2–3. Taurini-Romae: Marietti.Google Scholar
Aristotle. 1985. Nicomachean ethics. Irwin, T. (Ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Hackett.Google Scholar
Aristotle. 1988. The politics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Benedict, XVI. 2005. Encyclical Letter Deus caritas est . Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana. http://w2.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20051225_deus-caritas-est.html (accessed October 1, 2015).Google Scholar
Benedict, XVI. 2009. Encyclical Letter Caritas in veritate . Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana. http://w2.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20090629_caritas-in-veritate.html (accessed October 1, 2015).Google Scholar
Benedict, XVI. 2010. If you want to cultivate peace, protect creation. Message for World Day of Peace, January 1. https://w2.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/messages/peace/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20091208_xliii-world-day-peace.html (accessed October 1, 2015).Google Scholar
Bible. 1971. The new American bible. Washington: The Catholic Press.Google Scholar
Cash, K. C., & Gray, G. R. 2000. A framework for accommodating religion and spirituality in the workplace. Academy of Management Executive, 14(3): 124–133.Google Scholar
Catechism of the Catholic Church. 2000. 2nd ed. Washington, D.C.: United States Catholic Conference.Google Scholar
Chenu, M. D. 1963. The theology of work: An exploration. Chicago: Henry Regnery Co.Google Scholar
Chmielewski, P. J. 1997. Workers’ participation in the United States: Catholic social teaching and democratic theory. Review of Social Economy, LV(4): 487–508.Google Scholar
Congregation for Catholic Education. 1988. Guidelines for the study and teaching of the Church’s social doctrine in the formation of priests. Vatican City: Vatican Polyglot Press.Google Scholar
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. 1986. Instruction on Christian freedom and liberation Libertatis Conscientia. http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19860322_freedom-liberation_en.html (accessed October 1, 2015).Google Scholar
Costa, E., & Ramus, T. 2012. The Italian economia aziendale and Catholic social teaching: How to apply the common good principle at the managerial level. Journal of Business Ethics, 106(1): 103–116.Google Scholar
Dan-Cohen, M. 2012. Introduction: Dignity and its (dis)content. In Waldron, J., Dignity, rank, and rights: 3–10. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Fagley, N. S., & Adler, M. G. 2012. Appreciation: A spiritual path to finding value and meaning in the workplace. Journal of Management, Spirituality and Religion, 9(2): 167–187.Google Scholar
Ferrero, I., & Sison, A. J. G. 2014. A quantitative analysis of authors, schools and themes in virtue ethics articles in business ethics and management journals (1980-2011). Business Ethics: A European Review, 23(4): 375–400.Google Scholar
Finn, D. 2012. Human work in Catholic social thought. American Journal of Economics and Sociology, 71(4): 874–885.Google Scholar
Francis, . 2013. Apostolic exhortation evangelii gaudium . Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana. (accessed October 1, 2015).Google Scholar
Francis, . 2015a. Message for World Day of Peace , January 1. https://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/peace/documents/papa-francesco_20141208_messaggio-xlviii-giornata-mondiale-pace-2015.html (accessed October 1, 2015).Google Scholar
Francis, . 2015b. Letter to the International Commission against the death penalty . http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-no-matter-what-the-crime-the-death-penalty-is-inadmissible-89127/ (accessed March 20, 2015).Google Scholar
Francis, . 2015c. Encyclical Letter Laudato Si’ . Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana. http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html (accessed October 1, 2015).Google Scholar
Gaburro, G., & Cressotti, G. 1998. Work as such: The social teaching of the Church on human work. International Journal of Social Economics, 25(11/12): 1618–1639.Google Scholar
Gelernter, D. 2008. The irreducibly religious character of human dignity. In The President’s Council on Bioethics, Human Dignity and Bioethics: 387–405. Washington, D.C.: The President’s Council on Bioethics.Google Scholar
Guillén, M., Ferrero, I., & Hoffman, W. M. 2015. The neglected ethical and spiritual motivations in the workplace. Journal of Business Ethics, 128(4): 803–816.Google Scholar
Guitián, G. 2009. Conciliating work and family: A Catholic social teaching perspective. Journal of Business Ethics, 88: 513–524.Google Scholar
Handy, C. 1990. The age of unreason. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Business School Press.Google Scholar
Hennigan, B. 2012. Just reward: The nature of work and its remuneration in the economics of Henry George. American Journal of Economics and Sociology, 71(4): 840–873.Google Scholar
Himes, K. R. 2005. Modern Catholic social teaching: Commentaries and interpretations. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press.Google Scholar
Hollenbach, D. 2014. Human dignity in Catholic thought. In Düwell, M., Braarvig, J., Brownsword, R., and Mieth, D. (Eds.), Cambridge handbook on human dignity: Interdisciplinary perspectives: 250–259. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Huntington, S. P. 1991. Religion and the third wave. The National Interest, 24: 29–42.Google Scholar
John, XXIII. 1961. Encyclical Letter Mater et Magistra . Città del Vaticano: Tipografia Poliglotta Vaticana. http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-xxiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_j-xxiii_enc_15051961_mater.html (accessed October 1, 2015).Google Scholar
John, XXIII. 1963. Encyclical Letter Pacem in Terris . Vatican City: Vatican Polyglot Press. http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-xxiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_j-xxiii_enc_11041963_pacem.html (accessed October 1, 2015).Google Scholar
John Paul, II. 1979. Address to the third general conference of Latin American bishops . Puebla, 28 January. https://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/speeches/1979/january/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_19790128_messico-puebla-episc-latam.html (accessed October 1, 2015).Google Scholar
John Paul, II. 1981. Encyclical Letter Laborem Exercens . Vatican City: Vatican Polyglot Press. http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_14091981_laborem-exercens.html (accessed October 1, 2015).Google Scholar
John Paul, II. 1987. Encyclical Letter Sollicitudo Rei Socialis . Vatican City: Vatican Polyglot Press. http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_30121987_sollicitudo-rei-socialis.html (accessed October 1, 2015).Google Scholar
John Paul, II. 1991. Encyclical Letter Centesimus Annus . Washington D.C.: United States Catholic Conference. http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_01051991_centesimus-annus.html (accessed October 1, 2015).Google Scholar
John Paul, II. 1995. Encyclical Letter Evangelium Vitae . Washington D.C.: United States Catholic Conference. http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_25031995_evangelium-vitae.html (accessed October 1, 2015).Google Scholar
John Paul, II. 1999. Post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in America . Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana. http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_22011999_ecclesia-in-america.html (accessed October 1, 2015).Google Scholar
Kant, I. 1996. Practical philosophy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Kim, T. W. 2014. Decent termination: A moral case for severance pay. Business Ethics Quarterly, 24(2): 203–227.Google Scholar
Klein, T. A., & Laczniak, G. R. 2013. Implications of Caritas in Veritate for marketing and business ethics. Journal of Business Ethics, 112(4): 641–651.Google Scholar
Kraynak, R. P. 2003. Made in the image of God: The Christian view of human dignity and political order. In Kraynak, R. P. and Tinder, G. (Eds.), In defense of human dignity: 81–118. Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press.Google Scholar
Leo, XIII. 1891. Encyclical Letter Rerum Novarum. http://w2.vatican.va/content/leo-xiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_15051891_rerum-novarum.html (accessed October 1, 2015).Google Scholar
Maritain, J. 1949. Introduction. In UNESCO (Ed.), Human rights: Comments and interpretations. New York: Columbia University Press.Google Scholar
McCann, D. P. 1997. Catholic social teaching in an era of economic globalization. Business Ethics Quarterly, 7(2): 57–50.Google Scholar
McCormick, D. W. 1994. Spirituality and management. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 9(6): 5–8.Google Scholar
Melé, D. 2012. The firm as a “community of persons”: A pillar of humanistic business ethos. Journal of Business Ethics, 106(1): 89–101.Google Scholar
Middleton, J. R. 2005. The liberating image: The Imago Dei in Genesis I. Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press.Google Scholar
Miller, D. W. 2007. God at work. The history and promise of the faith at work movement. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Mitroff, I., & Denton, E. A. 1999. A study of spirituality in the workplace. Sloan Management Review, 40(4): 83–94.Google Scholar
Naughton, M. J., & Cornwall, J. R. 2006. The virtue of courage in entrepreneurship: Engaging the Catholic social tradition and the life-cycle of the business. Business Ethics Quarterly, 16(1): 69–93.Google Scholar
Naughton, M. J., & Laczniak, G. R. 1993. A theological context of work from the Catholic social encyclical tradition. Journal of Business Ethics, 12(12): 981–994.Google Scholar
Paul, VI. 1967. Encyclical Letter Populorum Pogressio . Vatican City: Vatican Polyglot Press. http://w2.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_26031967_populorum.html (accessed October 1, 2015).Google Scholar
Paul, VI. 1971. Apostolic Letter Octogesima Adveniens . Boston: Daughters of St. Paul. http://w2.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/apost_letters/documents/hf_p-vi_apl_19710514_octogesima-adveniens.html (accessed October 1, 2015).Google Scholar
Perricone, J. A. 1999. Catholic theology of work and worship. St. John’s Law Review, 73: 821–827.Google Scholar
Pius, XI. 1931. Encyclical Letter Quadragesimo Anno . Boston: St. Paul Editions. http://w2.vatican.va/content/pius-xi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xi_enc_19310515_quadragesimo-anno.html (accessed October 1, 2015).Google Scholar
Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. 2004. Compendium of the social doctrine of the Church. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana. http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/justpeace/documents/rc_pc_justpeace_doc_20060526_compendio-dott-soc_en.html (accessed October 1, 2015).Google Scholar
Radin, T. J., & Werhane, P. H. 2003. Employment-at-will, employee rights, and future directions for employment. Business Ethics Quarterly, 13(2): 113–130.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rhonheimer, M. 2010. L “herméneutique de la reforme” et la liberté de religion. Nova et vetera, 85: 341–363.Google Scholar
Sandelands, L. 2009. The business of business is the human person. Lessons from the Catholic social tradition. Journal of Business Ethics, 85: 93–101.Google Scholar
Santos, N. J. C., & Laczniak, G. R. 2009. ‘Just’ markets from the perspective of Catholic social teaching. Journal of Business Ethics, 89: 29–38.Google Scholar
Schuck, M. J. 1994. Modern Catholic social thought. In Dwyer, J. A. (Ed.), New dictionary of Catholic social thought: 611–632. Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press.Google Scholar
Sison, A. J. G. 1992. The virtualities of the concept of work in St. Thomas Aquinas. A commentaryon De opere manuali and Contra impugnantes Dei religionem et cultum. Unpublished manuscript presented at the IX International Congress of the Societé International pour la Etude de la Philosophie Mediévale, August, 1992, Ottawa, Canada.Google Scholar
Sison, A. J. G., & Fontrodona, J. 2012. The common good of the firm in the Aristotelian-Thomistic tradition. Business Ethics Quarterly, 22(2): 211–246.Google Scholar
Sison, A. J. G., & Fontrodona, J. 2013. Participating in the common good of the firm. Journal of Business Ethics, 113: 611–625.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sulmasy, D. 2008. Dignity and bioethics. History, theory, and selected applications . In the President’s Council on Bioethics, Human dignity and bioethics: 469–501. Washington, D.C.: The President’s Council on Bioethics.Google Scholar
Timming, A. R. 2014. The ‘reach’ of employee participation in decision-making: Exploring the Aristotelian roots of workplace democracy. Human Resource Management Journal. doi: 10.1111/1748-8583.12050.Google Scholar
Tinder, G. 2003. Against fate: An essay on personal dignity . In Kraynak, R. P. and Tinder, G. (Eds.), In defense of human dignity: 11–52. Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press.Google Scholar
Vatican Council II. 1965. Pastoral constitution on the Church in the modern world Gaudium et Spes . Vatican City: Vatican Polyglot Press. http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_cons_19651207_gaudium-et-spes_en.html (accessed October 1, 2015).Google Scholar
Wisman, J. D. 1998. Christianity, John Paul II and the future of work. International Journal of Social Economics, 25(11/12): 1658–1671.Google Scholar
Zigarelli, M. A. 1993. Catholic social teaching and the employment relationship: A model for managing human resources in accordance with Vatican doctrine. Journal of Business Ethics, 12: 75–82.Google Scholar