Some aspects of the image of social state under the rule of law in the interwar period in Lithuania

Object of the research presented in this article – social and legal thought of Lithuanian Catholics of the interwar period. In 1918, having restored the independence of Lithuania, a problem arouse concerning the choice of the national and legal order and the formation of new concept of the law. The most numerous was the Catholic part of intelligentsia, therefore the purpose of this article is to examine, through the analysis of its most distinguished representative, a perception of the mission of the state and the law in the course of implementation of human rights. The research discloses that it was back in the early 20th century that Lithuanian Catholics revealed new plane of research of the inter-relation of capitalism, socialism and government of the state and formulated theoretical insights in the social state under the rule of law – these insights retained their importance up to our days. They recognised that capitalism is a result of natural development of the society, rather than an incidental phenomenon, and this is a positive characteristic. They did not entirely denounce socialism, as well, but denied the instruments of solving the social conflict, which were proposed by the socialists, and projected that due to the progress of the society a new order in terms of quality will emerge. This order will be based on synthesis of capitalism and socialism and will preserve the viable principles of both orders.