One of the primary lessons I have learnt from chapter 7 of the Compendium of Social Doctrine on Economic Life is the church’s teaching and perspective towards the management and direction of the economy. These teachings are meant to serve our society in a common good, referred to as liberal perspective. On the other hand, the compendium gives an affirmation that the church supports enterprise and free markets, often referred to as “conservative perspective” (Catholic Church, 2004). However, these perspectives and teachings can be summed up to one lesson. Economic activities and material gains in the society should be centered at the service of man and society. The compendium views economic life as one way people should use to fulfill God’s commandment to love others.
In reference to Daniel K. Finn’s heresies, I have found freedom to be one of the most tempting one. The interesting part is the contradicting views given by the libertarians, the government, Catholics and neoconservative Catholics (Santelli, 2011). Libertarians argue that the freedom to act is violated when governments bar people from doing so in particular ways and people are free to act if they are the source of the decision to act. Catholics consider freedom more of the self-fulfillment choice rather than the kind of self-initiated while neoconservative Catholics tend to defer with some of freedom dimensions endorsed by libertarians. It is tempting to learn the different approaches we can take when it comes to definition and practice of freedom.
A broader understanding and criteria are provided by the readings to make distinction on what “good” and “bad” wealth is. In relation to human development, good wealth is meant to promote integral human development as an individual and whole person while bad wealth sores up material wealth at the cost of individual’s spiritual wealth (DesJardins, 2014). Furthermore, it has been noted that good wealth is socially, environmentally and economically sustainable, on the contrary, bad wealth sacrifices our social stability, environment and prosperity of our future.
References
Catholic Church. (2004). Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the church (No. 5). USCCB Publishing.
DesJardins, J. R. (2014). An introduction to business ethics. McGraw-Hill/Irwin.
Santelli, A. E. (2011). “Nine libertarian heresies”-A response to Daniel K. Finn. Journal of Markets and Morality, 14(2). Web.