Summary

Part 1: A Philosophy of Political Economy

The lecture presented a foundation for the study of political economy with a combination of the philosophies of Economic Personalism and Democratic Capitalism.

Reading: Michael Novak, "The Vision of Democratic Capitalism," from Three in One, edited and introduction by Edward Younkins (Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2001) 41-50.

Part 2: The Axiology of Centesimus Annus

Centesimus Annus (CA) is one of the most important writings on political economy of the 20th century. The lecture examined the main topics of CA and articulated CA's axiology of the human person as a foundation for free-market business ethics. Various issues raised by CA were also critiqued.

Readings: Centesiums Annus, 1991, Rocco Buttiglione, "Behind Centisimus Annus" and "Christian Economics 101" in A Free Society Reader, edited by Michael Novak, William Brailsford and Cornelius Heesters (Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 2000) 25-39 & 83-90. Articles from A New Worldly Order, edited by George Weigel (Lanham, MD: Ethics and Public Policy Center, 1992): Richard Land, "Good News, Better News, Best News," 101-105. Richard John Neuhaus, "An Argument About Human Nature," 123-129. James Schall, S.J., "Newness that is not New," 143-147. Herbert Schlossberg, "A Message Obscured by Static," 149-153. Robert Sirico, C.S.P., "Away from the Zero-Sum View," 155-157. Jozef Tischner, "A View from the Ruins," 165-168.

Part 3: The Moral Responsibilities of Business

Does the very nature of free-market businesses encompass moral norms? Do business corporations by their very nature include moral responsibilities? Those and other issues were examined with the Lecture's focus on the free-market corporation.

Readings: Michael Novak, "Seven Plus Seven," from Three in One, Edward Younkins, "The Corporation, " from Capitalism and Commerce (Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 2002).Thomas Michaud, "Economy Depends on Businesses' Ability to Meet Their Responsibilities," The Virtue of Business Ethics (Acton, MA: Copley Custom Publishing Group, 2003) 31-32.

Part 4: The Virtues of Business Ethics

The lecture presented and applied a common sense model for business ethics judgments and conduct.

Readings: Articles from Thomas Michaud's The Virtue of Business Ethics.

Part 5: Business Ethics in Technology Commercialization, the Environment and International Commerce

Issues in each one of those topics were examined. Case studies and exercises were used to apply an understanding of the issues.

Readings: Articles from Thomas Michaud's The Virtue of Business Ethics.

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Coordinator: Fr. Paweł Tarasiewicz, Ph.D. (kstaras@kul.lublin.pl)