Jurgis Matulaitis – lietuviškosios socialinės filosofijos pradininkas
Jurgis Matulaitis: the originator of Lithuanian social philosophy

Summary/Abstract: In this paper we discuss the discourse of Jurgis Matulaitis, the originator of Lithuanian social philosophy, in respect of his texts published in the Draugija magazine in 1909. According to Jurgis Matulaitis, social questions arise as discomforts of social life that must be solved by social philosophy. These questions are related to problems, arising from making or distributing goods rather than to manufacturing or distributing these goods. In his opinion, the change in mode of production and the failure in understanding of social life and human nature are the sources of the social question. The solution of the social question lies in raising proper requirements for transformation of the situation. In his consideration of assigning the question of property to the competence of the Church, Matulaitis asserts that the functioning of property lies within the capacity of Christian social philosophy as much as it is related to the requirements of justice, common good, fairness and natural law. Polish historians consider Matulaitis one of the foremost authorities of social science in their lands till the World War I. We hope that the Lithuanians will give appropriate attention to their outstanding countryman.

• Details
• Contents