| Man cannot fulfill himself except as a member of the community, which provides the opportunity for achievement, whether business, scholarly, artistic, or other. Human dignity is pursued within community, and government subsists to establish the basic framework of laws and institutions that enables both individual and corporate action. The guiding principle of moral action is the promotion of human dignity, which is mainly pursued through voluntary action in a well- constructed polity. After all, the idea of human dignity involves a substantial degree of autonomy. However, there are matters that are of such crucial importance that guaranteeing them becomes a function of government, like ensuring against sheer destitution. We do not want such a matter subject to the vagaries of private charity, there should be a floor limiting how fair we will allow our fellow citizens to go. (On the other hand, those capable of work should be required to do so, or to pursue educational goals allowing for a return to employment.) |
