The Moral Dynamics of Economic Life: An Extension and
ISBN: , SKU: , AUTHOR: Finn, Dong>anong>iel K., PUBLISHER: Oxford University Press, Caritas in veritate (Charity in Truth) is ong>theong> ''social'' encyclical ong>ofong> Pope Benedict XVI, one ong>ofong> mong>anong>y papal encyclicals over ong>theong> last 120 years that address ong>economicong> life. This volume, based on discussions at a symposium co-sponsored by ong>theong> Institute for Advong>anong>ced Catholic Studies ong>anong>d ong>theong> Pontifical Council for Justice ong>anong>d Peace, ong>anong>alyzes ong>theong> situation ong>ofong> ong>theong> Church ong>anong>d ong>theong> ong>theong>ological basis for Benedict's thinking about ong>theong> person, community, ong>anong>d ong>theong> globalized economy. ong>Theong> Moral Dynamics ong>ofong> ong>Economicong> Life engages Benedict's ong>anong>alysis ong>ofong> ''relation, '' ong>theong> characteristics ong>ofong> contemporary social ong>anong>d ong>economicong> relationships ong>anong>d ong>theong> implications ong>ofong> a relational, Trinitariong>anong> God for daily humong>anong> life. Crucial here is ong>theong> Pope's notion ong>ofong> ''reciprocity, '' ong>anong> ong>economicong> relationship characterized by help freely given, but which forms ong>anong> expectation that ong>theong> recipient will ''reciprocate, '' eiong>theong>r to ong>theong> donor or, ong>ofong>ten, to someone else. This ''logic ong>ofong> gift, '' Benedict argues, should influence daily ong>economicong> life, especially within what he calls ''hybrid'' firms, which make a prong>ofong>it ong>anong>d invest a share ong>ofong> that prong>ofong>it in service to needs outside ong>theong> firm. Similarly, development - wheong>theong>r ong>ofong> ong>anong> individual or ong>ofong> a nation - must be integral, neiong>theong>r simply ong>economicong> nor personal nor psychological nor spiritual, but a comprehensive development that engages all dimensions ong>ofong> a flourishing humong>anong> life. ong>Theong> essays, written by social scientists, ong>theong>ologiong>anong>s, policy ong>anong>alysts ong>anong>d oong>theong>rs, engage, extend, ong>anong>d critique Benedict's views on ong>theong>se issues, as well as his call for deeper dialogue ong>anong>d a morally based trong>anong>sformation ong>ofong> social ong>anong>d ong>economicong> structures.