<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The aim of the contribution is to outline the ethical foundations in Maritain’s and Novak’s interpretation of human rights in a wider historical context and to assess its meaning for the present, with special regard to our Central European area. The issue of human rights has, in addition to its political aspect, an inherent ethical one. Fundamental human rights relate to the possibility of autonomy of a person as a moral being endowed with reason and striving for a meaningful life. Therefore, these rights have a fundamental role in practical life; however, they have also become an issue of speculative philosophy and theology, where the focus is upon concepts of freedom and reason. Jacques Maritain and Michael Novak were important figures in the advancement of human rights at the international level, with exceptional impacts especially in Central Europe. Both have their roots in Christian humanism, and for both their concept of human relations is derived from Biblical religion and love for one’s neighbour. Novak accepts Maritain’s concepts of a person and human dignity, and he tries to explain his own concept of democratic capitalism in accordance with it.</p>
</abstract>

The aim of the contribution is to outline the ethical foundations in Maritain’s and Novak’s interpretation of human rights in a wider historical context and to assess its meaning for the present, with special regard to our Central European area. The issue of human rights has, in addition to its political aspect, an inherent ethical one. Fundamental human rights relate to the possibility of autonomy of a person as a moral being endowed with reason and striving for a meaningful life. Therefore, these rights have a fundamental role in practical life; however, they have also become an issue of speculative philosophy and theology, where the focus is upon concepts of freedom and reason. Jacques Maritain and Michael Novak were important figures in the advancement of human rights at the international level, with exceptional impacts especially in Central Europe. Both have their roots in Christian humanism, and for both their concept of human relations is derived from Biblical religion and love for one’s neighbour. Novak accepts Maritain’s concepts of a person and human dignity, and he tries to explain his own concept of democratic capitalism in accordance with it.

Ethical foundations of Jacques Maritain’s and Michael Novak’s conception of human rights

Ethics & Bioethics

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The aim of the contribution is to outline the ethical foundations in Maritain’s and Novak’s interpretation of human rights in a wider historical context and to...

Ethical foundations of Jacques Maritain’s and Michael Novak’s conception of human rights

Published Online: Dec 09, 2023

Page range: 127 - 137

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ebce-2023-0013

Keywords
Michael Novak, Jacques Maritain, human rights, Declaration on Religious Freedom, natural law, democratic capitalism

© 2023 Wendy Drozenová, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Ethical foundations of Jacques Maritain’s and Michael Novak’s conception of human rights

Published Online: Dec 09, 2023

Page range: 127 - 137

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ebce-2023-0013

KeywordsMichael Novak, Jacques Maritain, human rights, Declaration on Religious Freedom, natural law, democratic capitalism

© 2023 Wendy Drozenová, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Michael Novak, Jacques Maritain, human rights, Declaration on Religious Freedom, natural law, democratic capitalism