The Association of Christian Economists

An Academic Society for Christians in the Economics Profession

  • Home
  • About ACE
    • Donate to ACE
  • Faith & Economics
    • Aims and Scope
    • Instructions for Authors
    • Archives
  • Podcast
  • Membership
    • My Account
    • Join ACE
  • Log In

Divisible Goods and Common Good: Reflections on Caritas in Veritate

Faith & Economics
NUMBER 58, Fall 2011

Divisible Goods and Common Good: Reflections on Caritas in Veritate

Francis Russel Hittinger
University of Tulsa

Abstract: Pope Benedict XVI issued the encyclical Caritas in veritate
(Benedict XVI, 2009) on the heels of the global economic crisis. It pleased
some readers, dismayed others, but seemed to perplex many more. I neither defend nor quarrel with the encyclical. Instead, I hope to remove some impediments that social scientists, and especially academic economists, might have when they read social encyclicals, including Benedict’s. I make three main points. First, the term “social” in this tradition does not take its meaning chiefly from the social goods and utilities usually studied by social scientists. Social refers, in the first place, to modalities of social union. Second, the Catholic tradition does not take a one-sided view of either state redistribution or the logic of private exchange. Third, while the tradition speaks of different kinds of justice, it is also quite insistent that natural and supernatural loves are the companion of justice.

JEL: A12, A13, Z13

Key Words: Catholic Social Doctrine, Caritas in Veritate, common good, social justice, social charity

Full Text Here

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Tumblr
  • Pocket
  • Print
December 28, 2011

Post navigation

Review of: This Time is Different – Haymond, Weston, Wilcox → ← Comment on Hittinger’s “Divisible Goods and Common Good: Reflections on Caritas in Veritate”

Journal and Website Search

Browse Recent Articles

Editor’s Introduction: COVID-19 and Economic Calculation

Faith & EconomicsNUMBER 75, Spring 2020 Editor’s Introduction: COVID-19 and Economic Calculation Steven McMullenHope CollegeExecutive Editor, Faith & Economics Full-Text PDF

More Info

“Ye Cannot Serve God and Mammon”: An Institutional Interpretation of the Gospels – Walker Wright

FAITH & ECONOMICSNUMBER 74, Fall 2019 “Ye Cannot Serve God and Mammon”: An Institutional Interpretation of the Gospels Walker WrightJohns Hopkins University Abstract: Jesus’ [...]

More Info

Symposium on Aquinas and the Market

FAITH & ECONOMICSNUMBER 74, Fall 2019 SYMPOSIUM ON AQUINAS AND THE MARKET: TOWARD A HUMANE ECONOMY BY MARY HIRSCHFELD Complete Symposium PDF Prudently Preserving the Rational Choice [...]

More Info

A Conversation with Brian Griffiths – Smith and Smith

FAITH & ECONOMICSNUMBER 74, Fall 2019 A Conversation with Brian Griffiths Stephen L. S. Smith and Thomas M. Smith Hope College This is a lightly edited transcript of an interview […]

More Info

The Political Economy of Brexit – Griffiths

FAITH & ECONOMICSNUMBER 74, Fall 2019 The Political Economy of Brexit Brian GriffithsGoldman Sachs This is an extended written version of an address given to guests of Lord Griffiths at […]

More Info

Review of: Discrimination and Disparities – Principe

FAITH & ECONOMICSNUMBER 74, Fall 2019 Book Review Discrimination and DisparitiesBy Thomas Sowell Reviewed by Kristine PrincipeNiagara University Full Text PDF

More Info

Review of: Missional Economics – Hao

FAITH & ECONOMICSNUMBER 74, Fall 2019 Book Review Missional Economics: Biblical Justice and Christian FormationBy Michael Barram Reviewed by Henry HaoGordon College Full Text PDF

More Info

Review of: An Economics of Justice & Charity – Dadzie

FAITH & ECONOMICSNUMBER 74, Fall 2019 Book Review An Economics of Justice & Charity: Catholic Social Teaching, Its Development and Contemporary RelevanceBy Thomas Storck Reviewed by [...]

More Info

Feedback

Any questions or feedback regarding site content or your membership account can be sent to the ACE webmaster.

Navigation

  • My Account
    • Membership Billing
    • Membership Cancel
    • Membership Checkout
    • Membership Confirmation
    • Membership Invoice
    • Join ACE
  • About ACE
    • Donate to ACE
  • Faith & Economics
    • Aims and Scope
    • Archives
    • Instructions for Authors
  • Membership
  • Home
  • Archives – Old Issues
  • Podcast

Connect with ACE

Powered by WordPress | theme SG Double