Pope Francis's Ethical Argument

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The ethical argument at the core of Pope Francis’ most recent encyclical insists on the protection, preservation, and just treatment of the environment. The Pope’s argument is centred around the intrinsic worth of all life, and its implications are very relevant to our current situation and its complexity. In Laudato Si’: On care for our common home, Francis provides context, explanation, and suggested action as he discusses the social, cultural, spiritual and physical causes and symptoms of the crisis that we are facing today. Francis’ perspective on the science behind environmental issues agrees with the general consensus of the majority of modern scientists. His outline in Chapter 1 of issues such as deforestation, loss of species diversity, and water supply is concise, clear, and presented as fact. He celebrates the activists and leaders who have been stepping forward in the name of our environment. Francis not only cites Catholic bishops and leaders from around the world, but references a wide variety of spiritual and religious figures to back up his claims. Furthermore, his appeal is not only addressed to the Catholic church; it is addressed to all people, and he reiterates this throughout his writings. This suggests inclusion, acceptance, and open-mindedness on the part of the Pope, and has made …show more content…

He emphasizes social justice as relevant to the discussion, saying “the gravest effects of all attacks on the environment are suffered by the poorest”. He mentions that this is due to the fact that those in power are so far removed from those who are the “excluded” of our society. This, he elaborates, exists on an international level as well, as developing countries are exploited by more powerful countries economically and otherwise, which has also drastically contributed to the climate crisis. This mentality of separation, superiority, and dominion is manifested in countless

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