Date of Publication

5-31-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy

Subject Categories

Philosophy

College

College of Liberal Arts

Department/Unit

Philosophy

Thesis Advisor

Lorenz Moises J. Festin

Defense Panel Chair

Maxell Lowell C. Aranilla

Abstract/Summary

This dissertation explores the limits of Pope Francis’s notion of dialogue in Fratelli Tutti when applied to pluralistic and secular societies. While the encyclical offers a powerful moral vision based on human dignity, solidarity, and the common good, its call for dialogue remains closely tied to Catholic theological language and assumptions. This raises a key question: how can the ethical insights of Fratelli Tutti be made meaningful and credible in public spaces shaped by many different—and often conflicting—worldviews? To answer this, the study draws on Jurgen Habermas’s theory of communicative action and discourse ethics. The central argument is that Habermas’s model of dialogue—based on mutual respect, rational discourse, and the search for shared understanding—can provide the structure needed to open up Fratelli Tutti to a wider audience. It allows the Church’s moral message to be expressed in a way that people from various religious and secular backgrounds can engage with critically and constructively. The study uses comparative and critical analysis to highlight key points of overlap between Habermas and Fratelli Tutti, such as their focus on human dignity and mutual recognition. It then shows how Habermas’s framework can help explain these values in more universal terms, free from specific religious assumptions. This makes the Church’s approach to dialogue more inclusive, especially in democratic societies where no single worldview can dominate the public sphere. The dissertation also addresses deeper tensions, including the challenge of using religious language in public discourse and the risk of excluding non-religious voices. It argues that the Church can remain true to its tradition while still contributing meaningfully to public reason, if it adopts a more open, dialogical approach based on shared procedures rather than theological authority. In the end, the study shows that Habermas’s theory not only strengthens the philosophical foundation of Pope Francis’s call to dialogue but also makes it more relevant and effective in today’s complex, post-secular world. This contributes to wider debates in political philosophy, religious ethics, and philosophy of religion by offering a model for how faith-based moral visions can speak to all people in a shared moral language.

Abstract Format

html

Language

English

Format

Electronic

Keywords

Postsecularism; Dialogue—Religious aspects; Public sphere; Francis, Pope, 1936-2025; Jürgen Habermas

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8-18-2026

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Available for download on Tuesday, August 18, 2026

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