Praca źródłem własności

Abstract

John Paul II analyses a complex structure of man’s “presence” at work. He states that man’s intelligence enables him to discover production possibilities and various ways of fulfilling his needs. Work which is based on discipline and solidarity requires the developing of such qualities as reliability, prudence, bravery and honesty in adherence to a contract. The meaning and aim of human labour should also be regarded from the perspective of this truth. The principle of precedence of work over capital, often abused and overused ideologically, indicates an obvious truth of the priority of a worker over the things he uses. John Paul II sets forth a “personalistic” argument: work is always a causative, i. e. leading, reason, while capital - a set of means of production - remains no more than an instrument. The priority of what is personal over what is material is not challenged. The problem is to establish the relation of the powers of work to the powers of ownership of goods which were produced owing to work among other things.