Ocena współczesnej kultury Zachodu w nauczaniu Benedykta XVI (Josepha Ratzingera)

Abstract

The Assessment of the Contemporary Western Culture in the Teaching of Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger)

The article consists of two parts. In the first one, the authors pointed out an argument in the social sciences concerning ability to reasonably use the „culture” concept in scientific discourse. In the second one, they analyzed opinions Benedict XVI ( Joseph Ratzinger) expressed about present condition of the Western culture. Views of this figure were selected to study due to recognizing significant influential role the Pope plays in the public sphere. In the opinion of Benedict XVI, today there are two cultures of the West that coexist: rational Christian culture and Enlightenment (neo‑Enlightenment) culture. There is a deep contradiction between them due to acknowledgment or rejection of God as Logos, hence as the source of human intellect and rules shaping interpersonal behaviour. The fundamental danger connected with domination of Enlightenment attitude Benedict XVI sees in relativism and glorification of total freedom which in the Pope’s opinion ultimately leads to treating man solely as an object. In Ratzinger’s opinion, Christian and Enlightenment cultures are in conflict, with the latter playing the role of aggressor from the beginning. However, Benedict XVI hopes that the argument can be appeased by agreement on a set of basic values which, irrespective of attitude towards Logos, could be acknowledged as fundamental for existence of modern civilization. The ground for the agreement should be the acknowledgement of the inviolability of human dignity.