Last year, dott. Giorgio Del Signore, Bursar of the Alphonsian Academy, prof. Leonardo Salutati and myself launched a research project in the Academy entitled “The Governance of Change – at a time of ecological transition”. We had hoped to organize a summer school on this theme last July, but maybe we should have been more active in seeking participants – some very suitable applications did arrive but they were insufficient in number. Still convinced of the importance of on-going reflection on this matter, with their agreement, I am writing this post to present a new proposal to all interested parties.

The idea is to create a kind of sub-blog within the blog of the Alphonsian Academy. The broad theme of the sub-blog remains the governance of change, meaning by this the way in which an appropriate response to the social and ecological crisis depicted in Laudato sì can be effectively organized and managed. This encyclical can be understood as a sort of manifesto regarding this response. The narrower focus of the sub-blog will be on the open ethical questions raised by Laudato sì. These questions need on-going reflection and a constant effort at deeper understanding. While welcoming contributions from all relevant disciplines, particular attention will be paid to the moral dimensions of this crisis.

Concretely, contributors to the sub-blog are invited to choose ONE question raised by Laudato sì and reflect briefly on it in the optic of one or more disciplines. Ideally the question discussed might arise from an earlier question and so a certain thematic continuity may emerge.

All interested parties are invited to propose posts for this new sub-blog (3.000/3.500 characters, including spaces); these should be sent to mmckeever@alfonsiana.org.

It is hoped to organize a half-day seminar on this theme with contributors and readers here in the Academy at the end of this academic year.

The first question to be discussed in the next post will be: Is coercive force morally legitimate in the response to the ecological and social crisis? (M.McKeever)

Looking forward to reading your reflections on other important questions!

Martin McKeever, CSsR