REED NOTES “The Church’s principle on the priority of labor over

capital directly concerns the process of production.” (LE

(Chapter 3) 12)
““The conflict originated in the fact that the workers put
their powers at the disposal of the entrepreneurs, and
these, following the principle of maximum profit, tried What are the causes of Production?
to establish the lowest possible wages for the work Material Cause
done by the employees.” (LE 11)
- a thing exists because it is caused by the
materials it was made from
“This conflict, interpreted by some as a socio-economic Efficient Cause
class conflict, found expression in the ideological
conflict between liberalism, understood as the ideology - a thing exists because it is caused by the person
of capitalism, and Marxism, understood as the ideology who desired to make it
of scientific socialism and communism.” (LE 11) Formal Cause

- a thing exists because it is caused by the fact

Marxism that is looks and acts like it’s supposed to

- is conflict theory, it states that society is in Final Cause

conflict with each other. That the conflict is - a thing exists because it is caused by the need
between the rich and the poor. for it, thus it fulfils its purpose as a [thing]
- is a political and economic philosophy
- equal society
- for Marxism, Capitalism is the private
“Labour is always a primary efficient cause while
ownership of the means of production, that our
capital, the whole collection of means of production,
society is run by people who own factories and
remains a mere instrument or instrumental cause.” (LE
business corporations
12)

“The real conflict between labor and capital was

“Capacity for work, that is to say, for sharing efficiently
transformed into a systematic class struggle, conducted
in the modern production process-demands greater and
not only by ideological means but also and chiefly by
greater preparation and, before all else, proper
political means.” (LE 11)
training.” (LE 12)

“The Marxist programme, based on the philosophy of

“Capital cannot be separated from labor; in no way can
Marx and Engels, sees in class struggle the only way to
labor be opposed to capital or capital to labor, and still
eliminate class injustices in society and to eliminate the
less can the actual people behind these concepts be
classes themselves.” (LE 11)
opposed to each other.” (LE 13)

“The structure of the present-day situation is deeply

Working at any workbench, whether a relatively
marked by many conflicts caused by humanity, and the
primitive or an ultramodern one, a human being can
technological means produced by human work play a
easily see through her/his work she/he enters into two
primary role in it.” (LE 12)
inheritances:
 1. The inheritance of what is given to the whole What are the kinds of Materialism?
humanity in the resources of nature
Good Materialism
2. The inheritance of what others have already
Bad Materialism
developed on the basis of those resources,
primarily by developing technology, i.e., by
producing a whole collection of increasingly
An example on these errors where labourers are
perfect instruments for work. (LE 13)
exploited:

Hacienda Luisita
“In working, human beings also enter into the labor of
others.”
 We have the right to own property because all
“It is a consistent image, one that is humanistic as well
created goods by God is for us.
as theological.”
 The right to private property is subordinated to
the right of common use.
In it human being is the master of the creatures placed
 Property is acquired through work to serve
at her/his disposal in the visible world. If some
labor.
dependence is discovered in the work process, it is
dependence on the GIVER of all the resources of  By serving labour, they should make possible
creation, and also on other human beings, those to the achievement of the first principle of this
whose work and initiative we owe the perfected and order, namely:
increased possibilities of our own work.
a. the universal destination of goods and;

b. the right to common use of them

However, this consistent image was broken up in
 Capitalism denies the people to own properties.
human thought.
 Socialization of certain means of production
The break occurred in such a way that labor was
cannot be excluded.
separated from capital and set in opposition to it, and
capital was set in opposition to labor as though they  The Church favors a joint-ownership of means
were two impersonal forces, two production factors of production.
juxtaposed in the same “economistic” perspective.

What is the Personalist argument?

“Error of Economism” – considering human labor solely
The person who works desires not only due
according to its economic purpose.
remuneration for her/his work; she/he also wishes that,
within the production process, provision be made for
her/him to be able to know that in her/his work, even
“Error of Materialism” – when Economism directly or
something that is owned in common, she/he is working
indirectly includes a conviction of the primacy and
“for herself/himself.”
superiority of the material, and directly or indirectly
places the spiritual and the personal (man’s activity,
moral values and such matters) in a position of
The Church’s teaching has always expressed the strong
subordination to material reality.
and deep conviction that humanity’s work concerns not
only the economy but also, and especially, personal
values. 12. What is acquired first of all through work in
order that it may serve work?
Guide Questions for Chapter Three of
Laborem Exercens 13. What is Joint Ownership?
- A situation in which two or more persons co-
own a property.

1. Who is Karl Marx 14. What are the two inheritances where Human
beings can easily see through their work?
2. What is Marxism?
15. What are the principles achieved when property
3. What is Liberalism? is acquired through work that it may serve
- is a political and moral philosophy based on work?
liberty and equality
16. What are the two ideologies which express the
4. What is Communism? conflict between labor and capital?
- all property is publicly owned and each person
works and is paid according to their abilities and 17. What are the consistent images in the sphere
needs. and process of labor?

5. What is Class Struggle? 18. What is the meaning of the phrase “man enters
into the labor of others”?
6. What is Conflict Theory?
19. What is the relevance of the consistent images
7. What is the difference between the Proletariat of human beings in the sphere and process of
and the Bourgeoisie? humanity’s labor?
- the proletariat is the working class, including
farmers and low-skilled factory workers. They 20. What is the “Personalist” Argument?
do not own any means of production. The
bourgeoisie are the capitalist class, the
wealthy, who own most of the means of
production.

8. What are the different alienation of laborers?

- Alienation of the worker from their product

- Alienation of the worker from the act of

production

- Alienation of the worker from their

Gattungswesen (species-essence)

- Alienation of the worker from other workers

9. What is the difference between the error of

Economism and the error of Materialism?

10. What is the difference between Good

Materialism and Bad Materialism?

11. What are the causes of production according to

Aristotle?