The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture WOF 426: Democracy and the Catholic Church
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Feb 26, 2024 Exploring the compatibility between liberal democracy and the Catholic Church through the perspectives of Alexis de Tocqueville. Delving into the historical relationship between Catholicism and democracy, contrasting views of Hobbes and Locke, and analyzing the impact of social media on shared values. Embracing objective values for spiritual growth and advocating for a shift towards moral and spiritual principles.
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Historical Catholic Doubts And Fusionist Reply
- 19th-century Catholic leaders often saw liberalism as incompatible with Catholicism due to philosophical differences.
- Fusionists later argued that liberal democracy rests on biblical assumptions like human dignity, equality, and rule of law.
Modern Political Thought's Break With Teleology
- Hobbes and Locke reframed politics around self-preservation and individual will rather than objective goods.
- This modern reductionism removes teleology, making government primarily protective rather than directive.
Locke's Primacy Of The Will
- Locke's theory gives primacy to the will, making moral objects secondary to self-directed choices.
- This philosophical move underpins modern individualism and the idea of self-created goods.