UNCC100: Self and Community: Exploring the Anatomy of Modern Society
Is polluting our environment done for the common good?
Does perpetuating discrimination respect the dignity of the individual?
These are just two examples of the many real challenges we face as individuals functioning as members of our community. They highlight the fact that as humans, we are all individuals, and yet none of us lives in isolation. The African concept of ‘ubuntu’ is helpful here: I am what I am, because of who we are - this concept is consistent with the principles of Catholic social thought. Understanding these principles helps us to determine how issues relating to the dignity of the human person and the realization of the common good may be addressed in our personal and professional lives now and in the future. This knowledge and understanding is a foundation for the development of the skills needed to be able to propose ways to address challenges where shared responsibility for the common good is not being realized. Given the pervasiveness of such problems in our community, addressing this need is important to our success as a community in realizing a more just world – and your role as an individual who can, and must, be part of that.
Therefore, this unit will aim to equip you with knowledge and understanding of the ideas of "self" and "community" as interrelated concepts, and develop basic skills to enable you to contribute to a more just society.
Mode/attendance pattern:
This unit is offered in multi-mode. This means you are required to complete activities in LEO prior to face-to-face classes. The activities are designed to support your completion of the assessment tasks. It is vital to the successful completion of the unit that you engage in both these learning modes
Your assessment is to: Write an Op-Ed (opinion-editorial) that allows you to demonstrate an understanding of how issues relating to the dignity of the human person and the realization of the common good may be addressed by you in your professional practice now and in the future. You will need to select one issue from the list below that relates to the degree program you are studying and write a concise but persuasive opinion piece on this issue relating to the dignity of the human person and the realisation of the common good that relates to your future professional practice.
List of issues • unaffordable health care • health/wellbeing as a human right (violations) • nonqualified commentators/advisors giving advice on people’s health • the “lethality” of loneliness (and isolation) • failing to “close the gap” • cuts in government funding for education • unaffordable education • the task of education (overcoming racism, ageism or sexism) • excessive profits (business contexts) • alienation on social media networks • criminal “youth gangs” • plastic in the (human) food chain
Introduction
Unaffordable healthcare is emerging as a critical issue in this era that affects both human dignity alongside, the common good. In this regard, as a student of BME, I hope to provide health care services to the people with providing equity in terms of delivering care services for supporting people. However, during this career, I may face challenges regarding service quality, which may affect the behavior of people. Rudeness and condescension are two prime issues that are affecting human dignity in healthcare. On the other hand, refugees have not cared well in the nation that has hampered the common good of people. Hence, to overcome this situation, it is important to offer improved healthcare services along with good behavior.
Human Dignity
Christian philosophy considers human dignity as a core consideration for protecting the dignity of mass. Gould (2018) viewed that, every people needs following golden rules of life to protect own dignity. Since God is considered as the creator of human being as per this philosophy, thus protecting human dignity is considered as a fundamental duty of people. However, excessive costing in healthcare is emerging as one of the challenging issues in protecting human dignity. On the contrary, Sanford (2017) conveyed that decisions of self-care are required for protecting human dignity. Nevertheless, unaffordable healthcare is affecting the decision making of people whereby human dignity is damaging significantly. Healthcare is one of the fundamental necessities of people where every people need to be treated equally.
Besides this, human dignity involves identifying the needs of people properly. As opined by Sison, Ferrero & Guitián (2016), Catholic teaching conveys that humans are part of God thus preserving their dignity preserves the dignity of omniscient. Since healthcare helps in protecting people’s life thus offering low-cost quality health support is one of the fundamental needs of this era. It is not possible for every person to afford bulk amount in his or her healthcare. However, this issue is not considered well previously that has been emerged as one of the serious threats. Supporting this Davidson & Arrigo (2017) stated that hygiene of people needs handling with care. Thus, providing merit quality healthcare this issues can be mitigated properly whereby human dignity can be uplifted. Thus, adopting this criterion importance of affordable health care can be taught.
The Common Good
In order to provide support to mass in every aspect of their life common good has been initiated by Catholic philosophy. It refers to the improvement of every community whereby social structure can be developed. As commented by Beyer (2014), the meaning of solidarity needs to be assessed from Catholic philosophy to reach the common good for every people. It has been observed through different assessments that common good cannot be attained without improving healthcare services. As for an example, refugees come from different areas and become part of the society. However, due to their underdeveloped financial condition most of the time they are not getting improved heathcare support (Henrekson, 2014). Thus, it can be considered as a challenging issue that needs immediate elimination for social improvement.
In a similar vein, most of the time common goods are mixed up with the material interest of people whereby it reduces the credibility. Etzioni (2014) supported this view and postulated that common good needs to be served within so-called backward part of the society in order to improve their lifestyle. The term common defines the whole society that includes each section of society. Hence, decisions need to be considered with proper evaluation whereby philosophy of the common good can be practiced inside society. On the other hand, Davidson & Arrigo (2017) argued that the mental health of people needs securing using the common good practices. In this context, by offering mental support along with healthcare support this goal can be achieved by people, which need to be taught well.
Conclusion
From the above analysis, it has been observed that expensive healthcare is emerging as a challenging issue in people’s life. It can be observed through the Catholic philosophy that every person is intimately related to the almighty. Hence, securing their fundamental interest is the responsibility of society. However, human dignity and the common good are considered as essential consideration of this Christian philosophy that requires proper implementation in human life. Healthcare is one of the prime rights of people thus monitoring healthcare needs and attaining them is necessary. Thus, providing healthcare support to the so-called backward communities’ society can be forwarded as a whole and healthcare can become affordable.
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