The ethical aspects of socio-economic development of the modern world

Abstract

The article presents the issues concerning consumption as one of the important factors of degradation of the environment; it also describes the philosophy of Buddhism and the ideas of the Catholic social doctrine, which proclaim moderation behavior and the common weal for sustainable development of the socio-economic world; it draws attention to the uneven development of individual economies in the world (it is in fact also an ethical aspect of development). The purpose of the presentation is to claim that consumption stimulates the development of civilization in the socio-economic dimension. It pays attention to the importance of the ethical dimension of the process of consumption and minimizing environmental risks, and the need to reduce socio-economic inequalities between countries. The article stresses that the development of human society is not only means of economic development; economic development has an important place in the overall development of every man and all mankind. The goal of development is to achieve the weal good of all people; building solidarity and integration of mankind; socio-economic development should happen on the basis of the specified values and social norms; development without ethical principles becomes synonymous not with progress, but with regress and leads to dehumanization of socio-economic life; a man becomes a tool for achieving greater efficiency, productivity and wealth. Technological progress, which generally is considered to be the most important requirement for the economic development, should be opened to the widest possible community as well should not endanger the environment. The application of the foregoing is the statement that the socio-economic development must be limited. It cannot destroy natural resources; it cannot destroy a man, and it must improve him; it cannot also create socio-economic inequalities, and should seek to reduce them on the scale of the world.