Synergy of “to be” and “to have” as a critical point of sustainable development: A personalist perspective

This text presents a personalist interpretation of sustainable development by examining the tension between “to be” and “to have”. It argues that modern consumerism distorts human potential, fuels environmental degradation, and undermines social cohesion. Personalism, rooted in the dignity, rationality, and freedom of the human person, offers a path toward integrating material needs with spiritual and moral growth. Thinkers such as Mounier, Maritain, Marcel, and Fromm highlight that possession is legitimate only when subordinated to authentic personal flourishing and responsibility toward others. Sustainable development becomes possible when individuals transcend egoistic consumption, cultivate moderation and solidarity, and orient both technological progress and economic activity toward the common good.