personalismi

Personalismi is a philosophical movement that emphasizes the importance and value of the human person as a unique, conscious, and free individual. It emerged in the early 20th century, with key figures like Emmanuel Mounier, Jacques Maritain, and Karol Wojtyła (later Pope John Paul II) contributing significantly to its development. The core tenet of personalism is that reality is fundamentally personal, and that human persons are not merely objects or components of a larger system, but subjects with inherent dignity and rights.

This philosophy contrasts with various forms of collectivism, materialism, and abstract humanism. Personalists believe that individuals possess a profound capacity for self-determination, creativity, and transcendence. They advocate for social and political structures that protect and promote individual freedom, responsibility, and the common good, seeing these as intertwined. Emphasis is placed on intersubjectivity, the idea that human beings develop and find meaning through relationships with other persons. Personalism often has religious undertones, particularly within Catholic thought, viewing the person as created in the image of God and possessing a spiritual dimension. The movement has influenced a wide range of fields, including ethics, political theory, psychology, and education, advocating for a society that is both just and humane.