S. Schulte’s social conception: insights into social justice realization

Abstract

In the article, the social conception of Simon Schulte (1876–1920), one of the most eminent Lithuanian Catholic philosophers and sociologists of the beginning of the XX century, is described. It is shown that S. Schulte followed the evolutionary view to the development of the society. The social progress is impossible until the human nature changes and honesty develops. S. Schulte, like his teacher A. M. Weiss (1844–1925), a German theologian and philosopher, was in fact a supporter of the middle way – combination of freedom and order, having a clear critical standpoint on the economical liberalism, as well as a zealous defender of democracy principles. First, considering property to be a guarantee of the self–expression and freedom of a person, he simultaneously proposed to consider it not as a privilege but as a duty to the society. The disposal of property may be justified only by social efficiency and ethics of its use. So, property is not the welfare of an individual or a group of individuals but the welfare of the society. Second, S. Schulte followed the democratic view and was against autoritarism. Not a person should serve the state, but the state must take care of its people, respect and protect their rights given by God. Among them, the right to property. This right, in his opinion, may be ensured best by a parliamentary republic.