What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to present subsidiarity as integral to understanding human nature within Catholic social thought.

April 4, 2026

Subsidiarity as a Way of Life: The Fundamental Vision of Catholic Social Teaching

Key Points

The aim is to present subsidiarity as integral to understanding human nature within Catholic social thought.
Analyzes the concept of subsidiarity through the lens of Catholic social teaching.
Draws on the philosophical ideas of Luigi Taparelli.
Explores the implications of subsidiarity for political and social structures.
Positions subsidiarity as a holistic vision of the human person.
Highlights the importance of plural social bodies in fostering community.
Proposes practical applications for addressing social fragmentation.

Abstract

Bill McCormick, SJ, argues that subsidiarity, within Catholic social teaching, is not merely a procedural principle but a comprehensive vision of the human person as inherently social, rational, and ordered toward complex forms of happiness. Drawing on Luigi Taparelli’s thought, McCormick presents subsidiarity as rooted in human anthropology, emphasizing plural social bodies, practical reason, and the common good. McCormick ultimately proposes subsidiarity as a framework for renewing political engagement and addressing contemporary social fragmentation.

Bookmark

Subsidiarity as a Way of Life: The Fundamental Vision of Catholic Social Teaching

Key Points

Abstract

Cite This Study

Also Consider

Also Consider