Prof. Franz Josef Stegmann Bethlehem Social ... - Ordo Socialis

Stegmann
reflection; neither do they “fall from heaven", but grew and are growing from the experiences
and needs of human coexistence.
Secondly, knowledge of facts includes “functional knowledge” that is learnt from the social
sciences such as sociology, economics, history, political science, etc.. They teach us how
human coexistence "functions" and describe the political, economic, cultural and other factors
by which it is determined today and was determined in the past.
Apart from functional knowledge, there is a third factor, the scope and content of which are
difficult to define. This factor is the basic stock of generally comprehensible structures,
meanings and values; for instance, the right of every human being to own and use those things
necessary for his/her life, or that without a minimum of truthfulness the social life of human
beings is impossible - no matter how many reservations, exceptions and distinctions are made
in individual cases. Thus, throughout the history of man, all peoples have known unacceptable
killings and detestable "murder'', even if the boundaries between criminal murder and ritual
killing, the killing of an enemy, the killing of a criminal, burning of widows, etc. have often
been unclear and vague.
This basic stock of values and norms - which is hard to define - is derived from the reality of
the human being and proceeds from the background of general human experience. Human
coexistence cannot succeed when the physical integrity of human individuals is not protected,
when their moral freedom is not guaranteed, or when a human social life is not possible.
The essential features of these and similar insights can be recognised by the human mind and
are available to everyone. The reflecting reason shapes them into legal norms and rules of
action. In the historical process of human self-recognition, there is definitely a progress which
must be maintained if mankind is to live a decent and humane life. Today, for instance,
slavery has to be judged as a grave and direct offence against human dignity and natural law,
although in ancient times and even in the Middle Ages, it was justified by saying that some
people need direction by "a wiser man.” 15
In our context, knowledge of facts implies all three of the above-mentioned fields. Political
action, economic action, etc. must depend on and be guided by this insight into the social
reality - an insight of which the natural light of human reason is capable.
Furthermore, due to its pluralistic world view, the society in which we now live needs a
concept of social order, the essentials of which are generally comprehensible and accessible to
all. This common basis may be narrow and small, but without such a basis, no responsible
cooperation between the different groupings and ideologies in a community will be possible.
lf only for that reason, a set of shared common values and norms is imperative and vital for
society.
What has been considered up to now is, of course, meant for the political or economic actions
of Christians as well. They should, above all, act properly and according to the knowledge of
facts. For example, a Christian doctor cannot operate on an appendix using "Christian
principles"; this can only be done according to medical rules. To behave as a Christian
demands that one always acts as professionally as possible. The "Christian frame of mind"
demands - coming back to the doctor -that he/she no longer handle a scalpel when his/her
fingers begin trembling. Regarding political action, Pope John XXIII therefore rightly
15 Thomas Aquinas, Summa theoloiae, 2 II, q57, a3, ad 2; q104, a5.
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