Vol. XXXVIII / 1 - Studia Moralia

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AS A TASK OF THE STATE. ETHICAL ASPECTS 221
character of Christian theology of creation, which would accord
the non-human elements and realms of nature in the Creation a
significance that goes beyond a mere anthropocentric
perspective 8 . The fact that the model of sustainable development
is founded in material ethics compels us to include ethical
principles of regulating our dealings with non-human nature.
The loop back to “classical” social principles can be constructed
through the introduction of the principle of retinity. This brings
about at least a partial correction of strongly anthropocentric
interpretations of the model, which professes the independence
and equality of the economic, ecological, and social spheres and
thus allows room for a weighting of non-human creatures and
realms as inspired by the theology of creation. This being said,
the ethical dimensions of the task facing the state – on which
this paper will now focus – are placed in the foreground of the
discussion.
4. Sustainable Development as a Task of the State
The self-concept of a state and a general outline of the state‘s
main functions is normally formulated in a constitution. Among
the classical tasks of the state embodied in such terms as
“police”, “law and order”, “protection”, “security”, “rule of law”
and “social state”, there has become established in recent
decades, that of “environmental protection”. This relatively new
functional dimension has passed through various phases in
terms of the degree of internationalisation and interconnections
with different social systems on the way to its current form,
known under the title “Agenda 21”. The state is expected to
exercise influence over entire social systems and institutions
such that it is able to offer the protection necessary and provide
for the existential needs of future generations, while at the same
time promoting optimal social and economic development.
Fulfilling the demands of this immense job is of paramount
importance in securing public welfare, which is the purpose of
8
A more detailed discussion is provided in Münk, H.J., Nachhaltige
Entwicklung und Soziallehre, op. cit., pp. 237-239.