Catholic Studies (CAS) – Social responsibility rooted in human dignity and the common good
Led by Professor Ståle Johannes Kristiansen, the research group explores the intellectual and social traditions of Catholic thought as a resource for understanding and realizing social responsibility. Fundamental to the approach is the inviolable dignity of the human being – created in God's image – and the idea of the common good in Christian philosophy, where education is understood as the process of developing both intellectual and moral virtues.
The members of the group are affiliated with universities and colleges throughout the Nordic region.
Our core commitment
We focus on:
- Educational philosophy in Christian and European tradition.
- Christian personalism and its relevance to the idea of human rights.
- Catholic social teaching: Application of principles such as solidarity and stewardship of creation to today's social and ecological challenges.
- Faith-based education: We work closely with various Christian independent schools, with a particular focus on continuing education for teachers in the humanities.
- Dialogue between faith and reason: Exploring how theological and philosophical traditions can contribute to the public conversation about ethics and science.
Important research projects as acts of social responsibility and education:
Theoretical basis: Formation in love and truth
The group works from a positive Catholic perspective on the relationship between faith and reason, as well as between Christian philosophy and science. The members mainly work within phenomenological traditions and/or philosophical hermeneutics.
Conclusion: Contributing a tradition of social thought
The research group contributes to strengthening the program within both core areas. We offer a deep historical and philosophical foundation for social responsibility and show how long-standing religious traditions provide robust frameworks for philosophical reflection on formation – with a focus on the human being and the tradition of virtue ethics.
