Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Self-Interest, Love, And Economic Justice: A Dialogue Between Classical Economic Liberalism And Catholic Social Teaching, Lawrence R. Cima, Thomas L. Schubeck S.J.

Economics & Finance

This essay seeks to start a dialogue between two traditions that historically have interpreted the economy in opposing ways: the individualism of classic economic liberalism (CEL), represented by Adam Smith and Milton Friedman, and the communitarianism of Catholic social teaching (CST), interpreted primarily through the teachings of popes and secondarily the U.S. Catholic bishops. The present authors, an economist and a moral theologian who identify with one or the other of the two traditions, strive to clarify objectively their similarities and differences with the opposing perspective. Section one focuses on each position's perspective of love of self and love of …