Against Relativism. The Importance of Truth in the Ethics of St. John Paul II
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15633/pch.1655Keywords:
Axiological relativism, Ethics, Truth, Moral good, St. John Paul IIAbstract
The main aim of the paper is the analysis and critique of axiological relativism, typical of contemporary Western culture. Its supporters deny the objective status of moral norms and values. Axiological relativism leads to moral indifference based on blurring the difference between good and evil, and negating the belief that human action may be morally better or worse. I present the anti‑relativistic position of St. John Paul II, particularly in relation to the truth, understood as a cognitive and moral value. According to the Pope, a civilization based on the belief of the relative nature of good and evil leads to widespread hypocrisy and is destined to a slow decline.References
Allsopp M. F., O’Keefe J. J. (eds), Veritatis Splendor. American Responses, Kansas City 1995.
Bauman Z., Two Essays on Postmodern Morality, Warszawa 1994.
Dinoia J. A., Cesario R. (eds), Veritatis Splendor and Renewal of Moral Theology, Chicago 1994.
Guarino T. G., Fides et Ratio: Theology and Contemporary Pluralism, “Theological Studies” (2001) 62, p. 675–700.
Grizes G., ‘Veritatis Splendor’ Revealed Truth vs. Dissent, “Homiletic and Pastoral Review” (1994) 94, p. 8–17.
Guggenheim A., Pour un nouvel humanism. Essai sur la philosophie de Jean‑Paul II, Paris 2011.
Kalita Z., The Philosophy of Paideia. History and the Present, in: D. Probucka, A. Olech, M. Woźniczka (eds), The Passion or Mission? The Teaching Philosophy, Czestochowa 2001, p.17-22.
Kulik- Jęsiek A., Ethics‑Philosophy‑Education in the Light of the Words of John Paul II, “Zeszyty Filozoficzne” (2009) 14–15, p. 75–89.
John Paul II, The Encyclical Veritatis Splendor, Poznań 1993.
John Paul II, The Encyclical Fides et Ratio, Poznań 1998.
Lazari‑Pawłowska I., Ethics, Wrocław 1992.
Majcherek J., The Cultural Relativism, Kraków 1995.
Morris J. F., Fides et Ratio and John Paul’s Call to catholic Philosophers: Orthodoxy and/or the Unity of Truth, in: J. P. Hittinger, The Vocation of the Catholic Philosopher: From Maritain to John Paul II, Washington 2010, p.184-200.
Probucka D., The Axiological Relativism and the Message of Pope John Paul II, in: D. P. Klimczak, A. Sojka (eds), Literature – Man – Value, Kraków 2007, Instytut Wydawniczy “Maximum”, p. 228–236.
Tolhurst J., A Companion to Veritatis Splendor, Leominster 1994.
Wilkins J. (ed.), Understanding Veritatis Splendor, London 1994.
Wilkins J. (ed.), Considering Veritatis Splendor, Cleveland 1994.
Wojtyła K., Love and Responsibility, Lublin 1964.
Wojtyła K., The Sermons 1962–1978, Lublin 1979.
Zdunowski Z., Teaching Philosophy and its Troubles with the Truth, “Analiza i Egzystencja” (2014 ) 25, p. 207–228.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2016 Dorota Probucka
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The author declares that he or she has full copyright to the work, and such copyright it is not limited to the extent applicable to this declaration, that the article is an original work and that it does not infringe any third-party rights.
The author agrees to a free-of-charge, non-exclusive and non-restricted use of the work by Pontifical University of John Paul II in Krakow i.e.:
- to record and duplicate: make copies of the work by means of printing, reprography, magnetic or digital storage;
- to circulate the original or the copies of the work (disseminate, lend or lease the original or copies thereof, publicly display, screen or make the work publicly available so that everyone is able to access it at the time and in place they wish to do so);
- to include the work in a compilation;
- the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Krakow may grant sublicenses Creative Commons Acknowledgement of authorship-Non-commercial use-Without derivative work 3.0 Poland
The Pontifical University of John Paul II in Krakow makes the work available on the Journals Platform belonging to the University, according to the licence Creative Commons Acknowledgement of authorship-Non-commercial use-Without derivative work 3.0 Poland. Accordingly, the author authorises all interested parties to use the work on the following conditions:
- the author and the title of the work will be listed,
- the place of publication (name of the periodical and an Internet link to the originally published work),
- the work will be distributed in a non-commercial way,
- no derivative works will be created.
The UPJPII Press does not waive any of its copyrights to any target group.