Human Rights and Views of the Catholic Church under Habermas Discourse Theory
Discovering Common Ground in Differences
Abstract
This article aims to explain the views of the Catholic Church on human rights and put them into dialogue with the concept of human rights based on discourse theory as put forward by Jürgen Habermas. In the view of the Catholic Church, the ethical basis for the concept of human rights is the biblical view of human beings as being made in the image of God, which later became the forerunner to the birth of the concept of human dignity and the ethical basis for human rights. This article shows that the discourse theory rejects this theological model of justification for human rights. The criticism of the discourse theory as it relates to an absolute paradigm is that the absolute paradigm requires metaphysical premises. However, in a modern society characterized by a pluralism of worldviews and philosophical and religious beliefs, such metaphysical claims are no longer acceptable. Through the lens of discourse theory, the foundation of the notion of human rights cannot be based on the pre-political basis of religious values. This discourse theory grounding model is based on the conditions of contemporary post-metaphysical society, characterized by a plurality of comprehensive doctrines. However, Habermas emphasizes the role of religion in the public sphere in promoting human rights. He advocates for the reinvention of public reason by encouraging religious people to translate sacred terms into secular language when entering formal political spaces. According to Habermas’ theories, democratic decision-making must allow citizens the right to use religious terms in public debate. Furthermore, this article shows that discourse theory creates a roadmap for human rights by allowing religion, law, and politics to coexist. Only if we adhere to the principles of discourse theory can we guarantee the fair and just participation of both secular and religious members in a democratic constitutional state.
Keywords: Human Rights, Catholic Church, Religion, Habermas’s Discourse Theory
References
Audi, Robert, “Liberal Democracy and the Place of Religion in Politics” in Robert Audi & Nicholas Wolterstorff, eds, Religion in the Public Square: The Place of Religious Convictions in Political Debate (Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 1997) 1.
Benhabib, Seyla, Dignity in Adversity: Human Rights in Troubled Times (Cambridge: Polity Press, 2011).
Böckenförde, Ernst-Wolfgang, “Die Entstehung des Staates als Vorgang der Sӓkularisation” in Ernst-Wolfgang Böckenförde, ed, Recht, Staat, Freiheit Studien zur Rechtsphilosophie, Staatstheorie und Verfassungsgeschichte (Frankfurt: Suhrkamp Verlag, 1991).
Casanova, José, “Exploring the Postsecular: Three Meanings of ‘the Secular’ and their Possible Transcendence” in Craig Calhoun, Eduardo Mendieta & Jonathan VanAntwerpen, eds, Habermas and Religion (Malden, MA: Polity Press, 2013) 27.
Cooke, Maeve, “Violating Neutrality? Religious Validity Claims and Democratic Legitimacy” in Craig Calhoun, Eduardo Mendieta & Jonathan VanAntwerpen, eds, Habermas and Religion (Malden, MA: Polity Press, 2013) 115.
Die Kirche und die Menschenrechte. Ein Arbeitspapier der Päpstlichen Kommission Justitia et Pax. (München: Berlin Arbeitsgemeinschaft Sozialpolitischer Arbeitskreise, 1976).
Glendon, Mary Ann, A World Made New: Eleanor Roosevelt and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2002).
Habermas, Jürgen & Joseph Ratzinger, Dialektik der Säkularisierung: Über Vernunft und Religion, Florian Schuller, ed (Freiburg im Breisgau: Verlag Herder, 2004).
Habermas, Jürgen, “Religion in der Oeffentlichkeit. Kognitive Voraussetzungen fuer den oeffentlichen Vernunftgebrauch religioeser und saekularer Buerger” in Jürgen Habermas, ed, Zwischen Naturalismus und Religion (Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp, 2005).
———, “Religion in the Public Sphere: Presuppositions for the ‘Public Use of Reason’ by Religious and Secular Citizens” in Between Naturalism and Religion: Philosophical Essays (Malden, MA: Polity Press, 2008) 139.
———, “The Boundary between Faith and Knowledge ” 211. On the Reception and Contemporary Importance of Kant’s Philosophy of Religion.” in Between Naturalism and Religion: Philosophical Essays (Malden, MA: Polity Press, 2008).
———, Auch eine Geschichte der Philosophie: Band 1: Die okzidentale Konstellation von Glauben und Wissen (Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 2019).
———, Auch eine Geschichte der Philosophie: Band 2: Vernünftige Freiheit. Spuren des Diskurses über Glauben und Wissen (Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 2019).
———, Between Facts and Norms: Contributions to a Discourse Theory of Law and Democracy (John Wiley & Sons, 1992).
———, Die Einbeziehung des Anderen: Studien zur politischen Theorie (Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 1996).
———, Erläuterungen zur Diskursethik, 7th edition ed (Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 1991).
———, Faktizität und Geltung: Beiträge zur Diskurstheorie des Rechts und des demokratischen Rechtsstaats (Suhrkamp, 1992).
———, Glauben und Wissen. Peace Prize of the German Book Trade 2001 (Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 2001).
Hardiman, Francisco Budi, Hak-hak asasi manusia: polemik dengan agama dan kebudayaan (Yogyakarta: Penerbit Kanisius, 2011).
Hendry, Eka Ar, “Religious Democratization in Indonesia: Strengthening the Procedural and Substantial Religious Democracy” (2013) 2:1 AL-ALBAB- Borneo Journal of Religious Studies (BJRS) 33–49.
Honnefelder, “Person und Menschenwűrde” in Honnefelder/Krieger, ed, Philosophische Propädeutik 2 Ethik (1996) 215.
Hoyeck, Philippe-Antoine, “Religion and Democracy: Jürgen Habermas and Charles Taylor on the Public Use of Reason” (2021) 26:2 The European Legacy 111– 130.
James, Patrick, ed, Religion, Identity, and Global Governance: Ideas, Evidence, and Practice (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2011).
Küng, Hans, “Weltpolitik und Weltethos. Zur Problemstellung” in Dieter Senghaas & Hans Küng, eds, Friedenspolitik: Ethische Grundlagen internationaler Beziehungen (Muenchen-Zuerich: Piper Verlag, 2003).
Lindholm, Tore, “Dasar Konseptual dan Landasan Umum Hak Asasi Manusia – dengan Prospek Cerah Dukungan Berbasis -Agama bagi Hak Asasi Manusia” in Cekli Setya Pratiwi et al, eds, HAM & Syariat: sebuah kajian (PT Mizan Pustaka, 2022) 161.
Lohmann, Georg, “Menschenrechte zwischen Moral und Recht” in Stefan Gosepath, ed, Philosophie der Menschenrechte (Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp, 1998).
Maclure, Jocelyn & Charles Taylor, Secularism and Freedom of Conscience (Harvard University Press, 2011).
Madung, Otto Gusti Ndegong, “Post-Secularism as a Basis of Dialogue between Philosophy and Religion” (2021) 31:2 Jurnal Filsafat UGM 271–289.
Müller, Johannes, Entwicklungspolitik als globale Herausforderung: methodische und ethische Grundlegung (Kohlhammer, 1997).
Punt, Josef, Die Idee der Menschenrechte: ihre geschichtliche Entwicklung und ihre Rezeption durch die moderne katholische Sozialverkündigung (F. Schöningh, 1987).
Rawls, John, Political Liberalism (New York: Columbia University Press, 1993).
———, Politischer Liberalismus (Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp, 1998).
Sander, Hans-Joachim, Macht in der Ohnmacht: Eine Theologie der Menschenrechte (Freiburg: Verlag Herder, 1999).
Schmidt, Thomas M, “Die Konstelllation von Glauben und Wissen: zur Genealogie des nachmetaphysischen Denkens bei Jürgen Habermas” (2020) 49:2 Internationale katholische Zeitschrift Communio 192–205.
———, “Vernunftrecht und gőttliche Gebote. Religion als vorpolitische Quelle der Menschenrechte” in Stefan Kadelbach & Parinas Parhisi, eds, Die Freiheit der Religion im europäischen Verfassungsrecht (Baden-Baden, 2007) 15.
Troy, Jodok, “The Papal Human Rights Discourse: The Difference Pope Francis Makes” (2019) 41:1 Human Rights Quarterly.
Valentini, Laura, “Human rights and discourse theory: some critical remarks” (2014) 17:6 Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy 674–680.
XIII, Pope Leo, “‘Rerum novarum (1891).’ Über die Arbeiterfrage. Quoted from: TEXTE ZUR KATHOLISCHEN SOZIALLEHRE. The social circulars of the popes and other ecclesiastical documents. Edited by the Bundesverband der Katholischen Arbeitnehmer-Bewegung-Deutschland-KAB” (2006) 7 41–78.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
