2.3 What transformation should achieve for everyone

In order to achieve the desired motivating and guiding force, the described target perspective of transformation must become as concrete and descriptive as possible. At the same time, however, it must remain open enough to be filled with content in different social and cultural contexts. Therefore, the concretions only exist in a certain variety and diversity: What does it mean to be able to live well in the respective social and cultural context? One of the factors that promote transformation is the ability to engage³⁵ in the processes of communication on this question that are as participatory as possible and to be able to co-design the target perspective in this way. In addition, it is a requirement of procedural justice not to be given transformation goals, but to be able to participate in the definition of goals.

Within the framework of this study, it is therefore only possible to name a few cornerstones of the goal perspective, which are closely related to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and which are open for concretisation in the respective contexts:

•    All people must have the opportunity to satisfy their basic needs and to lead a life as healthy as possible, whose development is not prevented by avoidable physical or mental suffering. In order to live well, people need, among other things, adequate food, clean water, clean air, adequate housing, psycho-physical integrity, sufficient health care, mobility and access to education. Therefore, the corresponding offers in the social, health and education system must be designed in such a way that they are accessible to all people and it must be prevented that people without sufficient purchasing power remain or become excluded. At the same time, these fundamental needs must be secured in such a way that no avoidable socio-ecological problems arise.

•    All people, regardless of gender and origin, need real opportunities for action and participation in order to be able to satisfy the basic needs mentioned above, as far as possible through their own efforts and in accordance with their respective preferences. They must be able to develop their abilities, interests and inclinations in relationships in order to actively participate in social, cultural and economic life. This is also one of the prerequisites for experiencing self-esteem and esteem from others, as well as for creating and experiencing sense. In order to live well, people need decent, fair and socially secure work, access to good education and targeted empowerment, the opportunity to participate in economic, cultural and political processes without discrimination, and the possibility to cultivate diverse relationships and networks.

•    In terms of political freedom, all people must be able to participate equally in shaping the structures and framework conditions to which they are subject. This requires, above all, a lively culture of democratic opinion-forming that actively includes voices that are at risk of not being heard, as well as good governance at all levels. Participatory justice in this sense is not only a goal of transformation, but also a demand on transformation itself. Not only the outcome must be just, but also – as already mentioned – the process that leads to it.

•    All people must be able to live their freedom in a way that does not violate the freedom and the right to a dignified life of others. They must therefore be supported in developing a "resource-efficient", sustainable consumption pattern and a lifestyle that is as harmless as possible for others and for the environment. Although this sustainable lifestyle is associated with a certain quantitative "less" for many, it can preserve and perhaps even increase their quality of life. In this sense, Pope Francis is giving priority to quality over mere quantity, and in Laudato si' he develops a new model for prosperity and progress. This can be linked to ancient concepts of a good life and to the long-established and well-known insights in many cultures that for satisfaction, the right balance is essential, but also to modern findings of empirical research on happiness.

"Frugality is liberating. It does not mean less life, it does not mean less intensity, but quite the opposite. In reality, those who stop searching for what they don't have, picking up something here and there and there, savour every single moment more and experience it better (...). One can need little and live a fulfilled life if one is able (...) to find fulfilment in fraternal encounters, in service, in the development of one's own charisms, in music and art, in contact with nature and in prayer. Happiness requires us to understand how to limit some of the needs that numb us, and thus how to remain responsive to the many possibilities that life offers". (LS 223)

Admittedly, the mere appeal to realign consumption patterns and lifestyles in this sense hardly leads to an action-guiding change in consciousness. This is promoted not least by role models who live more content and fulfilled lives in a credible way and thereby offer orientation and inspire and encourage other people. What is also needed is an education that enables people to have their own positive experiences with a "different life" and to reflect on them, and that offers them incentives to explore their own life possibilities beyond material prosperity and status enhancement. Furthermore, a policy that opens up spaces and opportunities to realise these life possibilities for everyone is essential. Finally, a politically framed economy is needed that makes the demanded "frugal" (yet good and fulfilling!) life "easier"³⁶. For this, costs must be internalised in order to create prices that are fair to those who cause them and thus also incentives to use functions instead of having to own more and more goods.