Business Ethics and Catholic Social Thought provides a new and wide-ranging account of these two ostensibly divergent fields. Focusing on the agency of the business person and the interests of firms, this volume outlines fundamental issues confronting moral leaders and corporations committed to responsible business practices.
Testimony from the Top : Three CEO's Perspectives on Morality and Business / Regina Wentzel Wolfe -- Commerce and Communion : Business, Profit, and the Circulation of Wealth in the History of Christian Thought / Jennifer A. Herdt -- Practical Wisdom and Management Science / Andrew M. Yuengert -- The Importance of Agency and Autonomy for Business / Gregory Beabout -- Why Business Must Resist the Technocratic Paradigm / Mary Hirschfeld -- The Institutional Insight : The Common Good beneath the Shareholder/Stakeholder Model / Kenneth E. Goodpaster and Michael J. Naughton -- How Consumers and Firms Can Seek Good Goods / David Cloutier -- The Responsibility of Businesses for their Moral Ecology / Martin Schlag -- The Social Mortgage on Business / Edward D. Kleinbard -- Assessing the Moral Legitimacy Market Decisions / Martijn Cremers.
Good Business: Catholic Social Teaching at Work in the Marketplace Thomas O'Brien, Elizabeth W. Collier, and Patrick Flanagan Doing good business requires a firm moral compass for navigating everyday decisions with significant social, political, and economic impact. Good Business: Catholic Social Teaching at Work in the Marketplace examines eight themes of Catholic Social Teaching-- human dignity, common good, stewardship, option for the poor, economic justice, subsidiarity, solidarity, and rights and responsibilities-- and how they apply to contemporary business practices and critical issues in the global economy. With positive case studies and thoughtful discussion questions, Good Business guides learners toward practical application of the concepts in the modern business world.
This book offers different perspectives on Humanism as developed by Catholic Social Teaching, with a particular focus on its relevance in economics and business. The work is composed of three sections, covering what is meant by Christian Humanism, how it links with economic activity, and its practical relevance in the business world of today. It reviews the historical development of Christian Humanism and discusses the arguments which justify it in the current cultural context and how it contributes to human development. The book argues that the current recognition of human dignity and the existence of innate human rights are both ultimately rooted in Christian Humanism. It sets out the importance of the concept for economic activities, and how Christian Humanism can serve as a metaphysical foundation and ethical basis for a social market economy. Applying Christian Humanism to business leads to the centrality of the person in organizations and to seeing the company as a community of persons working together for the common good. Three thought-provoking case studies illustrate the wide-reaching positive impacts of applying Christian Humanism in the organization.
For over a decade Living Justice has introduced readers to Catholic social teaching. The second classroom edition has been revised and updated throughout to better meet the needs of students today. Key updates include further reflection on the use of the just-war theory in light of events in Iraq and Afghanistan, the revival of terrorist threats, the papacy of Benedict XVI, the social encyclical Caritas in Veritate, the recent financial crisis, business ethics today, and ongoing environmental concerns.
How can the Catholic faith help not only Catholics, but all people, build a just and flourishing society? The Catholic Church contributes first and foremost to the common good by forming the consciences of the faithful. Faith helps reason achieve an understanding of the common good and guides individuals in living justly and harmoniously. In this book, J. Brian Benestad provides a detailed, accessible introduction to Catholic social doctrine (CSD), the Church’s teachings on the human person, the family, society, political life, charity, justice, and social justice. Church, State, and Society explains the nuanced understanding of human dignity and the common good found in the Catholic intellectual tradition. It makes the case that liberal-arts education is an essential part of the common good because it helps people understand their dignity and all that justice requires. The author shows the influence of ancient and modern political philosophy and examines St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, papal social encyclicals, Vatican Council II, and postconciliar magisterial teaching. Benestad highlights the teachings of popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI that the attainment of the common good depends on the practice of the virtues by citizens and leaders alike. In addition to discussing the tension between CSD and liberal democracy, the book takes an in-depth look at: –Key themes of social life: the dignity of the human person, human rights, natural law, and the common good –Three principal mediating institutions of civil society: family, Church, and Catholic university –The economy, work, poverty, immigration, and the environment –The international community and just war principles “Excellent . . . The best treatment of Catholic Social Doctrine as a whole and a precious reminder of the intrinsically problematic character of modern democracy.” —Perspectives on Political Science
This introduction provides a comprehensive overview of the development of Catholic ethics in the wake of the Second Vatican Council (1962-5), an event widely considered crucial to the reconciliation of the Catholic Church and the modern world. Andrew Kim investigates Catholic responses to questions of moral theology in all four principal areas: Catholic social teaching, natural law, virtue ethics, and bioethics. In addition to discussing contemporary controversies surrounding abortion, contraception, labor rights, exploitation of the poor, and just war theory, he explores the historical sources of the Catholic worldview. Beginning with the moral vision revealed through the person of Jesus Christ and continuing with elaborations on this vision from figures such as Augustine and Aquinas, this volume elucidates the continuity of the Catholic moral tradition. Its balance of complexity and accessibility makes it an ideal resource for both students of theology and general readers.
Including contributions from twenty-two leading moral theologians, this volume is the most thorough assessment of modern Roman Catholic social teaching available. In addition to interrogations of the major documents, it provides insight into the biblical and philosophical foundations of Catholic social teaching, addresses the doctrinal issues that arise in such a context, and explores the social thought leading up to the "modern" era, which is generally accepted as beginning in 1891 with the publication of Pope Leo XIII's Rerum Novarum. The book also includes a review of how Catholic social teaching has been received in the United States and offers an informed look at the shortcomings and questions that future generations must address. This second edition includes revised and updated essays as well as two new commentaries: one on Pope Benedict XVI's encyclical Caritas in Veritate and one on Pope Francis's encyclical Laudato Si'. An outstanding reference work for anyone interested in studying and understanding the key documents that make up the central corpus of modern Catholic social teaching.
These pages show you how to infuse integrity into your business and why it is so essential to success. You will learn not only the responsibilities you have to your employees, to your customers, and to society in general, but also why you must fulfill these responsibilities to remain competitive. In short, you’ll learn how to do the right thing in business, and how to do it the right way. From Force for Good you’ll learn: The one principal concern of business (Hint: it’s not profit)The particular virtues you must have to run a good businessWhat natural law is and how it applies to businessThe 3 elements of business integrityThe 4 core principles of Catholic social doctrine that render even very competitive businesses humaneThe 6 things you must consider when making ethical decisionsThe 10 steps you must take now to develop integrity in your business These helpful pages include, as well: Scriptural support for Catholic Social Doctrines related to businessDozens of quotes from papal encyclicals about businessMany real-life examples from real businesses, successful and notPlus, much more to make you a better person and your business a better business!
