Man in the Field of Responsibility [Hardcover]

Many readers know Karol Wojtyla (1920-2005) as the the late Pope John Paul II whose tenure was from 1978-2005. He is remembered as a kind, affable Pope who was loved by many including Catholic and non-Catholic. He is also remembered as a courageous man who helped to stuff Big Communism in Eastern Europe without firing a shot. Pope John Paul II is also remembered as the victim of an assassination attempt in 1981 and that he went to the prison where his assailant was incarcerated, and Pope John Paul II forgave the assassin as almost his first act after recovery from his wounds.

What is not as well known is that Karol Wojtyla, the future Pope John II, was a learned scholar and a very thoughtful man which is reflected in his book titled MAN IN THE FIELD OF RESPONSIBILITY which is a timely book. At a time when violence, chaos, stupidty, apathy, etc. are deified, Wojtyla's book is a reminder of who we should be and how we should act as opposed to the current malaise.

Wojtyla started this book with a brief criticism of Hume (1711-1776)whose concept of Utlitarianism was based on men's usefulness. The dangerous question is what should happen when people outlive their "usefulness." 20th. century political history is one of tragedy when tyrants consider people as objects to be disposed of when their economic and poltical "usefulness" is done. Wojtyla also critisized Kant's (1724-1804)views.However, Wojtyla argued that some of Kant's views re experience had merit in examining ethics. Wojtyla simply argued that Kant overemphasized experience at the cost of an objective/ ultimate standard re values and a moral code.

Wojtyla was clear about the difference between someone who was good re technical skills and a good man or woman. In other words, he demonstrated that whatever "good" is, good goes beyond economic and technical prowess. Wojtyla critisized the Positivists who argued that only scientific and mathematical truths were the only ones that counted. Wojtyla was clear that science and technology were useful and made life much easier for millions of people, but Ultimate Questions demanded more than that.

Obviously, the question of ethics consisted of the question of what we ought to do and we ought not to do. Wojtyla defined good men and women who had a clear understanding of what we ought and ought not to do. Men and woman ought to do what is good and ought to avoid evil. As Wotjyla noted, this may require careful examination of conscience. Wojtyla agreed with St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) that men and women had some inherent impluse to do good for their ultimate benefit. Like Aquinas, Wojtyla realized that prudence was necessary at times for physical survival.

Wojtyla not only wrote about the abstract concepts of good vs. evil, he included the practical application in men's actions and their relations with each other. This was an important part of the book in that theory was useless if men were not ethical and moral in their actions. Such action is the ultimate test of responsibility, and the examples of action define us as good or evil. This is in line with the phrase, "Actions speak louder than words." Those who show timid adherence are mediocre while those who show rare courage of their convictions are heroes and saints. Wojtyla fully understand that there are few heroes among us. Yet, we should have sense of the heroic. Otherwise apathy can lead to evil if only timid people condone evil if they do not commit it.

This is a book that was originally as a sketch to a longer work, but this outline is "food for thought." Wojtyla could have cited examples of good vs. evil since he lived in Poland which was under German and then Soviet control. This would have embellished the book. The book should have a glossary to explain technical philsophical terms which would make the book easier to read for those not familiar with such vocabulary. This book is still worth time and effort and helps readers to understand that Ultimate Values, which are so important to us, do have crucial importance in spite of the cultural influences at war with such values.

James E. Egolf

July 2, 2011

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