Environmental Degradation, Capitalism and Catholic Social Thought

Abstract

This article argues that the critique of anthropocentrism as the basis of environmental degradation is inadequate because it avoids material causes in favour of ideas, it avoids class analysis, and it does not see how our current economic system decentres human beings in favour of things. What is needed is a critique of capitalism, such as can be found in the environmental writings of Pope Francis. After an analysis of Francis’s critique, the article summarises a theocentric and sacramental approach to remedying the environmental crisis.