FAITH & ECONOMICS
NUMBER 67, SPRING 2016
Toward a Kuyperian Political Economy: On the Relationship between Ethics and Economics
Dylan Pahman
Acton Institute
Sophia Institute
Abstract: Modern economics is generally considered an entirely positive
Modern economics is generally considered an entirely positive
field of study, and the role of ethics and normative analysis is found to
be irrelevant in contrast to facts and data. However, economics was once
considered a portion of the broader field of political economy that evolved
from the study of moral theology, and this origin is significant in understanding
the extent to which normative analysis is appropriate in economics.
Dutch theologian and statesman Abraham Kuyper emphasizes the use
of sphere sovereignty to explain the relationship between different academic
disciplines, and his perspective is applicable to the discussion of the role
of normative analysis in economics. Kuyper found that while each sphere
of study is distinct, each sphere is essentially related to the spheres that it
evolves from. This paper applies the theological perspective of Kuyper to
the field of economics and compares and contrasts this point of view with
modern scholarly opinion on the subject.
field of study, and the role of ethics and normative analysis is found to
be irrelevant in contrast to facts and data. However, economics was once
considered a portion of the broader field of political economy that evolved
from the study of moral theology, and this origin is significant in understanding
the extent to which normative analysis is appropriate in economics.
Dutch theologian and statesman Abraham Kuyper emphasizes the use
of sphere sovereignty to explain the relationship between different academic
disciplines, and his perspective is applicable to the discussion of the role
of normative analysis in economics. Kuyper found that while each sphere
of study is distinct, each sphere is essentially related to the spheres that it
evolves from. This paper applies the theological perspective of Kuyper to
the field of economics and compares and contrasts this point of view with
modern scholarly opinion on the subject.