By: Rev. Joseph W. Koterski, S.J.
Pope John Paul II’s social teachings make profound and sustained
use of philosophical principles. This paper reviews his encyclicals
on social teaching to show that, by the careful employment of
philosophical concepts and the sorts of argument that are typical
of the natural law tradition and of personalism, there can be
adequate explanation and defense of the various claims that are
important to Catholic Social Thought. The use of such philosophical
principles allows these documents not only to appeal to the
authority of the Church but also to provide arguments that are
readily intelligible for broader audiences.