SCIENCE AND LAUDATO SI’ ON THE PARADIGM SHIFT TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

FOR SUSTAINABILITY RESEARCHERS AND GLOBAL POLICY MAKERS IT IS LUCID CLEAR THAT A RADICAL TURNAROUND OF MODERN SOCIETIES IS NEEDED TO APPROACH SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PATHS. POPE FRANCIS TAKES HIS STAND ON A BASIC PARADIGM SHIFT IN HIS ENCYCLICAL LETTER LAUDATO SI’: CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME (2015). HE CALLS FOR A RADICAL SHIFT OF MINDSETS AND ECOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL CONVERSION WHICH ARE NEEDED FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND A LIFE IN DIGNITY FOR ALL. THE AUTHOR COMPARES ASPECTS FROM SUSTAINABILITY RESEARCH AND LAUDATO SI’ AND SHOWS HOW SCIENCE AND FRANCIS SPIRITUAL-THEOLOGICAL TAKE CONVERGE. BOTH CALL FOR THE NEED OF NEW MINDSETS AND SPIRITUAL RESOURCES TO NOURISH JUST LIFE-STYLES AND SUSTAINABLE SOCIETIES.