Human Goods, Economic Evils: A Moral Approach to the Dismal ScienceMuch of modern economic theory is based on a rather unflattering view of human nature, one that is essentially selfish and materialistic. Not surprisingly, this incomplete version of human anthropology makes for some rather incomplete economic theory, argues Edward Hadas in Human Goods & Economic Evils. Instead of simply being utility maximizers, Hadas argues human beings also seek to maximize morality in their everyday economic lives. For Hadas, economic man is moral man, who always strives for the good according to his nature. While the weakness of human nature ensures that the good is never fully achieved, economic activity is nevertheless best understood as part of the great moral enterprise of humanity. Human Goods & Economic Evils does not claim that the basic economic activities of laboring and consuming are the most important things in life, but they are literally vital, and as such deserve to be studied and understood through a more morally sympathetic view of human nature. With this in mind, Human Goods & Economic Evils provides both lay readers and policymakers the intellectual tools necessary to judge what is right and what is wrong about the modern economy, and returns the study of economics to its proper, more humanistic sphere. |
Contents
What Are We Talking About? I | 1 |
The Problem with Conventional Economics | 19 |
Can This Model Be Saved? | 35 |
Copyright | |
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Human Goods, Economic Evils: A Moral Approach to the Dismal Science Edward Hadas No preview available - 2007 |
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absolute poverty alienation allocation analysis antimodern antimodern moderns aristocratic aspects basic beauty capital caste Catholic Catholic social teaching Centesimus Annus chapter Christian comforts communities considered conspicuous consumption consume consumerism conventional economics conventional economists cultural desire discussion economic activity economic evils efficiency effort example external factories false consciousness Feminist Economics freedom G. K. Chesterton goal hierarchy human nature idea important industrial economy industrial societies instrumentally neutral labor intellectual internal economic John Paul judgment labor and consumption leisure less luxuries Marxist meaning mediated labor men's ment modern worldview moral weakness neoclassical nomic noneconomic particular perhaps philosophical physical physiocrats poor preindustrial economies premodern problem production prosperity relations response rich satiety simple social Social Darwinism sort spiritual structures sumption theory things thinkers tion tradition transcendental types of labor universal utilitarian utility wealth worldly