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Pope Paul VI's notion of "integral human development," which was endorsed by his successors including Pope Francis, broke with the modern project of purely economic and technological development, resulting in an original understanding of development. Like a conventional notion of development, this theoretical construct favors economic growth, technological innovation, and the implementation of social programs. However, development is not just a socioeconomic and political issue, let alone a technical one; it raises, fundamentally, theological questions and points to important ethical challenges. Hence, integral human development is a vocation at which all personal, social, and political activity must be directed. As such, it is not a social but an anthropological program. Far from being a secular development theory, the notion of "integral human development" emphasizes the religious goal of reconciling humanity and God through the creation of a human family over and above material social and economic issues. Sustained by global principle and shaped by different cultural views, this book brings forth the uniqueness of this approach to development, examines its contribution to human welfare, and anticipates the resistances it may face. -- back cover

The notion of integral ecology is complex and multidimensional. It expresses an ideal that requires a long-term commitment in order to be fulfilled. It offers ample space for research and development in a multiplicity of fields, e.g. technology, economic policy, culture, and opens the door to an interdisciplinary dialogue based on the awareness that "everything is intimately interconnected". In fact, the notion of integral ecology, itself, will need to be clarified over time, and this book, on the foundations of integral ecology, seeks to contribute to this process. It explores the relevance of the notion of integral ecology to the fields of social science, philosophy, and theology, these being fields in which the community of scholars represented here have a competence. It stresses how the crises through which we are passing is ethical and socio-environmental, and that responding to it will require the mobilizing of resources that include the cultural, spiritual and the educational. It reflects on how deep is the need for the kind of "change of course" for which Pope Francis calls and how this will require a paradigm shift in relationships from the most local to the most global of levels. At the same time, the book remains hopeful. It recognizes that the ecological crisis represents both a challenge and an opportunity-a privileged moment of stimulus to conversion and more authentic living. Just as the crisis is multidimensional, so is the call for a responsible-truly integral-response to it.