Sustainable development: in space as on Earth?

Abstract

Although the concept of sustainable development is widely used as a guiding principle, there is much less consensus on its normative foundation and ethical implications. Since the 1880s, when social tensions threatened to tear apart European societies during the Industrial Revolution, Catholic social teaching (CST) has served as a sound basis for dialogue for many political leaders regardless of national or religious affiliation. This article examines how Pope Francis’ present-day CST might foster a cross-cultural debate on the ethics of economic growth, social and ecological justice and civil participation on Planet Earth as well as in outer space.In many parts of the world, Catholic social teaching (CST) shapes the discussion of political and ethical guidelines and provides a promising ethical basis for the normative concept of sustainable development. It is engaging in dialogue and serving as a basis for dialogue, as evidenced not least by Pope Francis’ social and ecological teaching. In this article, we illustrate that, from a CST perspective, the concept of sustainable development is based on three powerful ideas, which should be acceptable to most people regardless of their individual cultural or religious backgrounds: (1) the idea of the common good; (2) the idea of human rights; and (3) the idea of equal justice. Building on the central idea of the common good – universal and integral – the article shows how this idea connects to and allows us to establish the normative relevance of human rights as a focal point of many (modern) ethical traditions. It also gives content to the basic requirements of justice. These three perspectives together lead to the demands of sustainable development and help to elucidate the nature and role of its various dimensions. The article concludes with implications for the questions of economic growth and the human responsibilities and opportunities transcending Planet Earth.